Europa Conference League Preview: Levadia Tallinn -v- Dundalk

LEVADIA TALLINN

Levadia Tallinn take on Dundalk in the Europa Conference League at the Albert Le Coq Sportif Arena in Tallinn on Thursday evening (kick-off is at 5.30pm Irish time).

Levadia impressed last week at Tallaght Stadium, forcing Dundalk to come from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw.

However, away goals do no longer count in European competition, and they will be hoping that they can build on a good showing last time out.

“The first game was a good, high-quality game with equal performance on both sides. I hope we can show this level again and even add 10 or 15%,” Levadia boss Marko Savic said.

“We want to attack, and they want to attack. We want to play with the ball, they too.

“We just have to do everything a little better. We were good in the attack, we had to play a little more without the ball in the second half than we would have liked, but we also managed the defence.”

DUNDALK

Premier Division Dundalk will be hoping to extend their European campaign this term as they take on Levadia Tallinn in the second-leg of their Europa Conference League tie in Tallinn.

The Lilywhites picked up a 2-2 draw at Tallaght Stadium during the home leg last week, with Will Patching and David McMillan both scoring for the hosts.

“I’d hope to think it will be the same as last week,” Dundalk boss Vinny Perth told his club’s media team ahead of their trip to Estonia.

“The neutrals and people I have met over the last week said that they really enjoyed the game as a spectacle.

“It’s important to put on a show because that’s what football is all about but, ultimately, we want to win.

“It’s a difficult tie and it’s always difficult away from home but they need to score to beat us so we have to make sure we are set up correctly. 

“At the same time, we have to understand that we have huge attacking threats in our game and we have to exploit that and give people the opportunity to go and score goals.”

In terms of team news for the Lilywhites, Michael Duffy misses out along woth long-term absentees Daniel Cleary and Brian Gartland.

Referee: Thorvaldur Arnason (Iceland).

MATCH STATS

The winners of this tie will take on Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Either Dundalk or Levadia will be the seeded side for that encounter.

On Dundalk’s last visit to Estonia to take on Levadia, they ran out 1-0 winners over their Estonian opponents. Dylan Connolly scored the winner on that occasion.

Since returning to the Dundalk hotseat, Vinny Perth has lost just one game as manager and is unbeaten in his last five games.

BETTING

Levadia Tallinn 11/10; Draw 9/5; Dundalk

PREDICTION

Levadia Tallinn 1 - 2 Dundalk

Levadia Tallinn

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary.

Doubtful: Michael Duffy.

Suspended: None.