2020_Meistriliiga
2020 Meistriliiga
29th season of the Meistriliiga
The 2020 Meistriliiga (known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 30th season of the Meistriliiga, the top Estonian league for association football clubs. The season began on 6 March 2020,[2] but was suspended after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The league continued on 19 May 2020.[4] The season concluded on 6 December, with the last match between Flora and FCI Levadia cancelled due to COVID-19 cases in both teams.[5] The defending champions Flora successfully defended their title, winning second title in a row and their 13th in total.[6]
Quick Facts Season, Dates ...
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 March – 8 March 19 May – 6 December |
| Champions | Flora 13th title |
| Relegated | Tallinna Kalev |
| Champions League | Flora |
| Europa Conference League | Paide Linnameeskond |
| Matches played | 147 |
| Goals scored | 442 (3.01 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Rauno Sappinen (26 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Tulevik 5–0 Kuressaare (7 June 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Kalev 1–8 Paide (7 March 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Paide 7–4 Nõmme Kalju (6 December 2020) |
← 2019 2021 → | |
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Ten teams competed in the league, nine sides from the 2019 season and 2019 Esiliiga champions TJK Legion. Legion made their debut in the top tier after consecutive promotions from fourth tier in three seasons.[7] Maardu Linnameeskond were relegated at the end of the 2019 season after finishing in the bottom of the table. Kuressaare retained their Meistriliiga spot after winning a relegation play-off against Esiliiga runners-up Vaprus.[8]
Venues
Tallinn
Locations of the 2020 Meistriliiga teams
More information Team, Location ...
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCI Levadia | Tallinn | A. Le Coq Arena | 14,336[9] |
| Flora | |||
| Kuressaare | Kuressaare | Kuressaare linnastaadion | 1,000[10] |
| TJK Legion | Tallinn | Kadriorg Stadium | 5,000[11] |
| Narva Trans | Narva | Narva Kreenholm Stadium | 1,065[12] |
| Nõmme Kalju | Tallinn | Hiiu Stadium | 650[13] |
| Paide Linnameeskond | Paide | Paide linnastaadion | 268[14] |
| Tallinna Kalev | Tallinn | Kadriorg Stadium | 5,000[11] |
| Tammeka | Tartu | Tartu Tamme Stadium | 1,500[15] |
| Tulevik | Viljandi | Viljandi linnastaadion | 1,084[16] |
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Personnel and kits
More information Team, Manager ...
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCI Levadia |  Vladimir Vassiljev |
Dmitri Kruglov |
Adidas | Viimsi Keevitus |
| Flora | Jürgen Henn |
Konstantin Vassiljev |
Nike | Tele2 |
| Kuressaare |  Roman Kozhukhovskyi |
Märten Pajunurm |
Nike | |
| TJK Legion | Denis Belov |
Denis Vnukov |
Uhlsport | |
| Narva Trans | Oleg Kurotškin |
Roman Nesterovski |
Nike | Sportland |
| Nõmme Kalju | Marko Kristal |
Igor Subbotin |
Adidas | Paf[17] |
| Paide Linnameeskond | Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko |
Andre Frolov |
Nike | Verston |
| Tallinna Kalev |  Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs |
Marek Kaljumäe |
Macron | Coolbet |
| Tammeka | Kaido Koppel |
Tauno Tekko |
Nike | Metec |
| Tulevik | Sander Post |
Kaimar Saag |
Joma | Espak[18] |
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Managerial changes
More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCI Levadia | Vladimir Vassiljev |
Caretaker spell over | 11 November 2019[19] | Pre-season | Martin Reim |
11 November 2019[19] |
| Narva Trans | Oleg Kurotškin |
Caretaker spell over | 15 November 2019[20] |  Cenk Özcan |
15 November 2019[20] | |
| Nõmme Kalju | Roman Kozhukhovskyi |
End of contract | 28 November 2019[21] | Marko Kristal |
2 December 2019[22] | |
| Kuressaare | Dmitrijs Kalašņikovs |
End of contract | 16 December 2019[23] | Roman Kozhukhovskyi |
16 December 2019[23] | |
| Tallinna Kalev | Aleksandr Dmitrijev |
Mutual consent | 18 March 2020[24] | 10th | Liivo Leetma |
18 March 2020[24] |
| Narva Trans | Cenk Özcan |
Mutual consent | 19 June 2010[25] | 10th | Oleg Kurotškin |
19 June 2010[25] |
| Levadia | Martin Reim |
Resigned | 10 July 2020[26] | 3rd | Vladimir Vassiljev |
10 July 2020[26] |
| Tallinna Kalev | Liivo Leetma |
Sacked | 31 August 2020[27] | 10th | Dmitrijs Kalašnikovs |
31 August 2020[27] |
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Due to the long pause, the season was shortened. Instead of the regular format of each team playing each of the other teams four times, the league were to be split after the third playthrough into two sections of top 6 and bottom 4, with each team playing each other in that section.[28]
On 7 November, due to the second wave of COVID-19, the season was shortened even more with the league split into three sections after the 27th round – top 4, 5th & 6th, and bottom 4, with each team playing each other in that section.[29]
On 11 December the season's last match between Flora and FCI Levadia was cancelled.[5]
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flora (C) | 29 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 76 | 17 | +59 | 80 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Paide Linnameeskond | 30 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 80 | 43 | +37 | 64 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | FCI Levadia | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 57 | |
| 4 | Nõmme Kalju | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 31 | +21 | 49 | |
| 5 | Tammeka | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 33 | 44 | −11 | 32 | |
| 6 | Tulevik | 28 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 30 | 46 | −16 | 31 | |
| 7 | TJK Legion | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 26 | 44 | −18 | 31 | |
| 8 | Narva Trans | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 31 | 49 | −18 | 25 | |
| 9 | Kuressaare (O) | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 28 | 63 | −35 | 24 | Qualification for the Relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Tallinna Kalev (R) | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 68 | −48 | 20 | Relegation to the Esiliiga |
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Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian), UEFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Fairplay ranking.[30]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Less matches awarded against; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Matches won; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Fairplay ranking.[30]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- FCI Levadia qualified for the Europa Conference League as the other finalist of the 2020–21 Estonian Cup, Flora, has already qualified to the UEFA Champions League
Relegation play-offs
At season's end Kuressaare, the ninth place club, participated in a two-legged play-off with the runners-up (of independent teams) of the 2020 Esiliiga, Maardu Linnameeskond, for the spot in 2021 Meistriliiga.
Maardu Linnameeskond v Kuressaare
| 10 December 2020 | Maardu Linnameeskond | 3–5 | Kuressaare | Maardu |
| 18:00 (UTC+2) | Anton Aristov  23'Maksim Krivošein 44'Ilja Zelentsov 47' |
Report | Märten Pajunurm 8' Sander Laht 11'Sören Kaldma 61'Michael Schjønning-Larsen 64'Rasmus Saar 81' |
Stadium: Maardu kunstmuruväljak Referee: Kristo Külljastinen |
Kuressaare v Maardu Linnameeskond
| 13 December 2020 | Kuressaare | 4–2 | Maardu Linnameeskond | Kuressaare |
| 13:00 (UTC+2) | Sten Penzev 32' Mattias Männilaan 59', 81'Sander Laht 78' |
Report | Vladislav Ogorodnik 7' Vadim Aksjonov 86' |
Stadium: Kuressaare kunstmurustaadion Referee: Karl Koppel |
- Kuressaare won 9–5 on aggregate and retained their Meistriliiga spot for the 2021 season.
A total of four rounds was played. In the first three rounds teams played each other three times. In the fourth round the league was split into 3 groups – top 4, 5th and 6th, and bottom 4, where they played each team in their group one more time.[31]
Rounds 1–18
More information Home \ Away, FLO ...
| Home \ Away | FLO | PAI | LEV | NÕM | TAM | TUL | LEG | TRA | KUR | KLV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Paide Linnameeskond | 1–3 | — | 4–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| FCI Levadia | 1–3 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| Nõmme Kalju | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Tammeka | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Tulevik | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 2–0 | — | 0–2 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 |
| TJK Legion | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Narva Trans | 2–3 | 1–0 | 4–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Kuressaare | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Tallinna Kalev | 0–3 | 1–8 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |
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Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rounds 19–27
More information Home \ Away, FLO ...
| Home \ Away | FLO | PAI | LEV | NÕM | TAM | TUL | LEG | TRA | KUR | KLV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | — | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | — | — |
| Paide Linnameeskond | — | — | 1–0 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 4–2 | 6–2 | 4–1 |
| FCI Levadia | 0–2 | — | — | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | — | — | 3–0 |
| Nõmme Kalju | — | 1–3 | — | — | — | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | — |
| Tammeka | 0–1 | — | — | 0–0 | — | — | — | 0–0 | 4–2 | — |
| Tulevik | — | 1–4 | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | — |
| TJK Legion | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | — | — | 2–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Narva Trans | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | 0–0 | — |
| Kuressaare | 0–4 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | — | — | 2–2 | — | — | 0–1 |
| Tallinna Kalev | 1–4 | — | — | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | 4–1 | — | — |
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Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Top four rounds 28–30
More information Home \ Away, FLO ...
| Home \ Away | FLO | LEV | NÕM | PAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | — | Cancelled | — | — |
| FCI Levadia | — | — | — | 2–2 |
| Nõmme Kalju | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | — |
| Paide Linnameeskond | 1–7 | — | 7–4 | — |
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Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Fifth & sixth round 28
Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Bottom four rounds 28–30
More information Home \ Away, KUR ...
| Home \ Away | KUR | LEG | TRA | KLV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuressaare | — | — | 0–3 | — |
| TJK Legion | 0–1 | — | — | — |
| Narva Trans | — | 1–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Tallinna Kalev | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | — |
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Source: Estonian Football Association (in Estonian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Top scorers
More information Rank, Player ...
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[32] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rauno Sappinen | Flora | 26 |
| 2 |  Edrisa Lubega | Paide Linnameeskond | 14 |
| 3 | Tristan Koskor | Tammeka | 12 |
| 4 |  Marcelin Gando | FCI Levadia | 11 |
| 5 | Henri Anier | Paide Linnameeskond | 10 |
 Deabeas Owusu Sekyere | Paide Linnameeskond | ||
| Konstantin Vassiljev | Flora | ||
| 8 | Vladyslav Khomutov | Nõmme Kalju | 9 |
| Yuriy Kolomoyets | FCI Levadia | ||
| Siim Luts | Paide Linnameeskond | ||
| Pavel Marin | Tulevik | ||
| Edgar Tur | Paide Linnameeskond | ||
| Aleksandr Volkov | Nõmme Kalju |
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Hat-tricks
More information Player, For ...
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Saliste | Paide Linnameeskond | Tallinna Kalev | 8–1 (A) | 7 March 2020[33] |
| Kaspar Paur | Nõmme Kalju | Tulevik | 6–0 (A) | 31 May 2020[34] |
| Edgar Tur | Paide Linnameeskond | Kuressaare | 6–2 (H) | 1 November 2020[35] |
| Rauno Sappinen | Flora | Paide Linnameeskond | 7–1 (A) | 29 November 2020[36] |
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Monthly awards
More information Month, Manager of the Month ...
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| May[37] | Martin Reim | Levadia |  Pedro Victor | Nõmme Kalju |
| June[38] | Jürgen Henn | Flora | Pavel Marin | Tulevik |
| July[39] |  Amir Natkho | Nõmme Kalju | ||
| August[40] | Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko | Paide Linnameeskond | Märten Kuusk | Flora |
| September[41] | Denis Belov | Legion | Sergei Mošnikov | Paide Linnameeskond |
| October[42] | Kaido Koppel | Tammeka | Brent Lepistu | FCI Levadia |
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Source:[43]
More information Position, Player ...
| Position | Player | Club | Previous Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Matvei Igonen | Flora | 2019, 2016 |
| DF | Michael Lilander | Flora | none |
| DF | Karl Mööl | Paide | 2019, 2017 |
| DF | Märten Kuusk | Flora | 2019 |
| DF |  Muhammed Sanneh | Paide | none |
| MF | Sergei Mošnikov | Paide | 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011 |
| MF | Konstantin Vassiljev | Flora | 2019, 2006 |
| MF | Vladislav Kreida | Flora | 2019 |
| MF | Pavel Marin | Tulevik | none |
| FW | Rauno Sappinen | Flora | 2017, 2015 |
| FW | Henri Anier | Paide | none |
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- Winter 2019–20 – before the season
- "Kodune tippjalgpall saab peatoetaja" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- "Eesti 2020. a jalgpalli meistrivõistluste Premium ja Esiliigade juhend" (PDF) (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- "Valitsus kuulutas Eestis välja eriolukorra, kõik jalgpallivõistlused tühistatud kuni 1. maini". Estonian Football Association. 13 March 2020.
- Kangur, Kristjan Jaak (14 May 2020). "Ametlik kinnitus: Premium liiga võib uuel nädalal alustada (Esimesed mängud teisipäeval!)". soccernet.ee.
- "Premium liiga hooaeg on läbi, karikatseremoonia toimub eraldi". soccernet.ee. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- "Luup peale Tehtud! Flora alistas ka Tammeka ja on jälle Eesti meister!". soccernet.ee. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Vägeva lennuga Legion kindlustas hoolimata Kotenko supermängust tõusu Premium liigasse". soccernet.ee. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- "VAATA JÄRELE: Kuressaare ei lubanud Vaprus end üllatada ja kindlustas koha järgmise aasta Premium liigas (galerii)". soccernet.ee (in Estonian). 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "A. Le Coq Arena" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- "Kuressaare Linnastaadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian).
- "Kadrioru Staadion". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian).
- "Narva Kreenholmi staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- "Hiiu kunstmurustaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- "Paide linna staadion" (in Estonian). Eesti Spordiregister.
- "Tartu Tamme staadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- "Viljandi linnastaadion" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- "Uue suurtoetajaga Kalju sai vägeva rahasüsti". soccernet.ee. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- "Tuleviku peasponsoriks sai kohalik suurettevõte". soccernet.ee. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Martin Reim: Levadia ja Flora filosoofiates on erinevusi, aga seda põnevam on see minule". soccernet.ee. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- "Ametlik: Transi uueks juhendajaks saab klubi eelmisel hooajal neljandaks tüürinud türklane". soccernet.ee. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- "Ametlik: Kalju kinnitas, et ei pikenda Kožuhhovskiga lepingut". soccernet.ee. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- "Marko Kristal: Nõmme Kalju peab väljakul toimuvat dikteerima ja olema seejuures edukas". soccernet.ee. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- "Kalju kriisist pronksmedalini vedanud Kožuhhovski asub Kuressaare peatreeneriks". soccernet.ee. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- "Šokkuudis! Tallinna Kalev sai uue peatreeneri". soccernet.ee. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- "AMETLIK! Özcan läinud, ajutine asendaja taas klubi seest". soccernet.ee. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Reim lahkus Levadia peatreeneri positsioonilt". soccernet.ee. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "AMETLIK: Kalev loobus Leetma teenetest". soccernet.ee. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Premium liiga hooaeg lõpeb liigatabeli poolitamisega". soccernet.ee. 14 May 2020.
- "Premium liiga viimane ring muutus lühemaks". EFA. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- "Eesti 2017.a meistrivõistluste Meistri- ja Esiliiga juhend" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "Premium liiga jätkub teisipäeval uue formaadiga". Estonian Football Association. 14 May 2020.
- "MÄNGUDE AJALUGU" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- "JK Tallinna Kalev 1 - 8 Paide Linnameeskond" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 March 2020.
- "Viljandi JK Tulevik 0 - 6 Nõmme Kalju FC" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 31 May 2020.
- "Paide Linnameeskond 6-2 FC Kuressaare". Estonian Football Association. 11 December 2020.
- "Paide Linnameeskond 1-7 Tallinna FC Flora". Estonian Football Association. 11 December 2020.
- "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Martin Reim ja Pedro Victor" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 11 June 2020.
- "Premium liiga juunikuu parimateks osutusid Henn ja Marin" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 7 July 2020.
- "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Amir Natkho ja Jürgen Henn" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 10 August 2020.
- "Premium liiga kuu parimateks valiti Kuusk ja Zahovaiko" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 16 September 2020.
- "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad teenisid Mošnikov ja Belov" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 23 October 2020.
- "Premium liiga kuu parimate auhinnad teenisid Lepistu ja Koppel" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. 4 November 2020.
- "Fännide lemmik 2020 - Rauno Sappinen (milline sai sümboolne koosseis?)". Soccernet.ee. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.