Flora
On Wednesday, 8 July, the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn will host the first match of the Champions League qualifying round of 16 between Flora Tallinn and Iberia 1999. The match will kick off at 17:00 BST.
The champions of Estonia and Georgia have been given their first chance in a long time to prove themselves on the international stage. It seems that even the opening stage of Champions League qualifying will be a serious obstacle for both teams. Iberia 1999 have slightly greater squad potential, but form is on the Baltic side's side.
Flora Tallinn approached the first round of Champions League qualifying in decent form. Yes, Konstantin Vassiljev's team suffered defeats to Levadia Tallinn (1:3) and Paide Linnameeskond (1:2) in June, but the home side did not end their scoring run. The Greens have scored in 13 consecutive matches. That is a decent figure, but all these successes have come at domestic level, where competition in Estonia is noticeably lower than in the opening stage of European qualifying. In the league, Flora Tallinn are seven points behind leaders Levadia Tallinn in points lost, while they have the third-best defence in the competition with 19 goals conceded in 18 matches.
The Tallinn team do not have a single foreign player, and recently lost leading midfielder Kaare, who was bought by Villarreal B. The 4-4-2 system relies on a packed midfield, with plenty of young players who cover a large amount of ground. Experienced forward Rauno Sappinen leads the attack: the 30-year-old is the most valuable player at Flora Tallinn (300,000 euros).
Last season brought Iberia 1999 another title, as they became national champions for the second year in a row. This season, there have been enough problems with results, with the last 10 matches bringing only four wins. Against Torpedo Kutaisi in the Georgian Super Cup final (2:3 after a penalty shootout), Iberia 1999 attacked better (17-5 on shots), managed to come back from 0:2 down, but luck in the penalty shootout was on the opponents' side. In the Georgian league, the Reds have gone Under 2.5 goals in 10 of their 19 games, with only two clubs scoring fewer.
We are confident that the debut European match will be a test for both sides. Flora Tallinn, even with home support, will rely on counter-attacks, as they score plenty on the domestic stage and believe in their attack. Iberia 1999 have an advantage in personnel, with their squad valued higher (6.830 million euros against 3.40). The first meeting will be played with both sides feeling each other out around the opposition penalty area.
Sandi Putros (Denmark)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Average fouls per match – 23;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 4.3;
Matches with a red card – 1 out of 6;
Matches with a penalty awarded – 1 out of 6.
|
Karl Mööl
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Evert Grünvald
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Airon Kollo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mihhail Kolobov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sander Tovstik
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Danil Kuraksin
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Remo Valdmets
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sander Alamaa
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vladislav Kreida
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rauno Sappinen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sergei Zenjov
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tony Varjund
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Andero Tatrik
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kaur Kivila
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andreas Vaher
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Oscar Pihela
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Robert Veering
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ronald Sammul
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ilja Antonov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Maksim Kalimullin
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Marten Kukkonen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tristan Toomas Teeväli
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rauno Alliku
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Taaniel Usta
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrey Demchenko
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Giorgi Makaridze
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aleksandre Amisulashvili
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Armel Junior Zohouri
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jemali-Giorgi Jinjolava
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nika Sikharulashvili
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vahid Selimović
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andria Bartishvili
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bakar Kardava
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nikoloz Dadiani
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zviad Natchkebia
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vakho Bedoshvili
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Tornike Megrelishvili
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrey Victor Souza Santos
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nikoloz Botchorishvili
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Eldar Kuliiev
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Giorgi Kobuladze
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Giorgi Kutsia
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Givi Khachidze
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amiran Dzagania
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lado Chikhradze
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:2 | 6 |
|
4
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 6 |
|
5
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:4 | 6 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 6 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 6 |
|
8
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
9
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
10
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8:3 | 4 |
|
11
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:4 | 3 |
|
13
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
14
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
15
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
16
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:6 | 3 |
|
17
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
18
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
19
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 3 |
|
21
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
23
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:7 | 3 |
|
24
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 3 |
|
25
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4:5 | 1 |
|
26
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
27
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4:6 | 1 |
|
28
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:7 | 1 |
|
29
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:6 | 0 |
|
30
|
Porto
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:5 | 0 |
|
31
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:5 | 0 |
|
32
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:7 | 0 |
|
34
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
35
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:9 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:0 | 3 |
|
4
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
5
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
8
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
9
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
11
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
13
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
14
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
17
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
18
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
19
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
20
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
21
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
22
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
23
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
24
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
25
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
26
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 0 |
|
27
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
28
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 0 |
|
29
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 0 |
|
30
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
31
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
32
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
33
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:6 | 0 |
|
34
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
2
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
8
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
9
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
11
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
14
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
16
|
Como
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
17
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
18
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
20
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
21
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
23
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
24
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
25
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
|
26
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
27
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
28
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
29
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
30
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
33
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
34
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
