Cork City taking no chances as Levadia pose tricky European test

Cork City have been to the Baltics before on European football expeditions in Latvia and Lithuania but this evening’s Europa League first round qualifier here in the coastal resort town of Parnu is a first for the club.

John Caulfield’s side, FAI Cup champions and the runaway league leaders at home face a Levadia Tallinn side with a very similar domestic record as Igor Prins’ side are unbeaten in 17 matches so far this year — winning 13 and drawing four.

Levadia originally wanted City to reverse this fixture as their own Kadriorg Stadium in Tallinn is out of commission at the moment and that’s why City faced a two-hour road trip from the capital to tonight’s match venue, the 1,500 capacity Parnu Rannastaadion.