European Qualification Race Heats Up Ahead Of Nomme Kalju v Flora

Stephen Welch / 8:47 PM GMT • 24th September, 2024

2 minutes

Three teams fight it out for a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.

The 2024 Meistriliiga title race has turned into a one-horse race with FCI Levadia closing in on a first league title since 2021. Their relentless charge to the title has been in no small part down to their defence, conceding just 13 goals in 28 matches whilst keeping 17 clean sheets along the way. Boasting a twelve-point lead at the league’s summit with eight games to play, FCI Levadia are closing in on an 11th Meistriliiga title. However the battle for European qualification is far from over, with three teams fighting it out for the remaining two spots in next season’s UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.

Top Three Challengers

Paide Linnameeskond have already equalled last season's tally of 53 points and a run of seven wins in eight matches make them the most in-form side in the division. With only one away league game against any of the top four to come, Paide Linnameeskond have arguably the easiest run-in amongst the sides chasing a top three spot. Paide Linnameeskond sit fourth but could yet achieve their best ever league finish.

Led by the league’s top scorer, Alex Matthias Tamm, Nomme Kalju had for a long time looked like serious title contenders but a run of just four wins in ten matches between 12th May and 13th July all-but-ended their title hopes. Kalju still occupy second place but have away matches to come against the sides that sit in both third and fourth position.

Third place Flora have scored the fewest number of goals of any of the top four but remain right in the mix following a run of six wins and one draw from their last seven league games. Last season’s champions have averaged fewer goals scored and more goals conceded than they have in any Meistriliiga season since 2015 and are now on their third manager of the season. Flora have arguably the toughest run-in of any of the top four with home and away matches against both Nomme Kalju and Paide Linnameeskond still to come.

Current Meistriliiga Standings

Nomme Kalju and FC Flora go head-to-head at the Hiiu staadion on Wednesday afternoon and the bookmakers make the hosts slight favourites. The sides played out a 0-0 draw when they met at the same ground in June and also shared the spoils in a far more entertaining meeting in April. Here are the latest match odds courtesy of our betting partners at Unibet.

Nomme Kalju v FC Flora Match Odds