FCI Levadia vs FC Differdange 03

FCI Levadia: Season Overview

FCI Levadia has been enjoying a commendable season, despite their premature elimination from the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of Riga FC, suffering identical 0-1 defeats in both legs.

Domestic Dominance

The ‘White-Greens’ are demonstrating strong dominance in the Estonian championship, currently sitting comfortably at the top of the league table after 22 rounds, maintaining a five-point lead over their closest rivals, Flora.

Cup Achievements

They have already secured one piece of silverware this season, clinching the Supercup by overcoming Nõmme Kalju in a thrilling 3-2 victory. However, their pursuit of a domestic double was thwarted by the same opponent in the Cup final, losing 3-3 (3-4 on penalties) after a dramatic shootout.

European Campaign

In terms of their European journey, after their Champions League disappointment, Curro Torres’s side transitioned to the Europa Conference League. Their second-round draw saw them pitted against Georgian club Iberia, a team grappling with a prolonged crisis at the time. Levadia shrewdly exploited this vulnerability, progressing to the next stage, albeit not without some challenges, securing a 1-0 win followed by a 2-2 draw. In the third qualifying round, they could have encountered a significantly stronger adversary. However, fortune favored them once more, as FC Differdange 03 was widely considered the ‘most favorable draw’ among the remaining teams. The Estonian manager opted to leverage his team’s superior quality, adopting an attacking approach that invited the Luxembourgers to engage in open play. This strategy nearly backfired, but Levadia ultimately secured a narrow 3-2 victory.

Formidable Home Record

Levadia’s home record across all competitions this season is particularly noteworthy, boasting an impressive 14 victories, 2 draws, and just 1 defeat. Their formidable home scoring prowess is reflected in a remarkable 43 goals scored against only 11 conceded!

FC Differdange 03: European Start

FC Differdange 03 also commenced their European campaign in the Champions League, where they, too, faced an early exit in the first qualifying round, suffering consecutive defeats to Drita (0-1, 2-3).

Conference League Journey

Their failure to progress past the initial Champions League stage meant the Luxembourgers were re-routed to the Europa Conference League rather than the Europa League. The subsequent draw proved quite favorable, pitting them against The New Saints, a team of comparable stature. Pedro Silva’s squad managed to overcome the Welsh side with two narrow 1-0 victories. Regarding their encounter with Levadia, I won’t reiterate the details, but it’s important to acknowledge FC Differdange 03’s commendable performance on home turf, where they were just shy of securing a draw.

Domestic League Opener

The visitors have already commenced their domestic league season, securing a 1-0 victory against Atert Bissen in their opening fixture. However, they are at a distinct disadvantage when compared to the Estonians, who are already more than halfway through their championship campaign, indicating a significant difference in match fitness and rhythm.