2018 Meistriliiga


The 2018 Meistriliiga was the 28th season of the Meistriliiga, the highest division of Estonian football system. The season was scheduled to begin on 25 February 2018, but was postponed due to a cold wave. On 3 March, the season began with four out of five second round matches held in indoor arena. This marked the first time Estonian league football was played indoor. The season concluded on 10 November 2018. Flora were the defending champions. Nõmme Kalju won their 2nd Meistriliiga title completing an entire season undefeated.

Teams

10 teams competed in the league. Sillamäe Kalev lost their Meistriliiga license due to a failure to meet their financial obligations and were relegated to the II liiga. On 4 November 2017, it was announced that FCI Tallinn would merge with Levadia.
The two clubs were replaced by 2017 Esiliiga champions Maardu Linnameeskond and runners-up Tallinna Kalev. On 18 December 2017, Kuressaare replaced Maardu Linnameeskond after the latter withdrew from the league due to financial reasons.

Venues

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
FCI LevadiaTallinnKadriorg Stadium
FloraTallinnA. Le Coq Arena
KuressaareKuressaareKuressaare linnastaadion
Narva TransNarvaNarva Kreenholmi Stadium
Nõmme KaljuTallinnHiiu Stadium
Paide LinnameeskondPaidePaide linnastaadion
Tallinna KalevTallinnKalevi Keskstaadion artificial turf
TammekaTartuTartu Tamme Stadium
TulevikViljandiViljandi linnastaadion
VaprusPärnuPärnu Rannastaadion

League table


Relegation play-offs

At season's end Kuressaare, the ninth place club, participated in a two-legged play-off with the runners-up of the 2018 Esiliiga, Elva, for the spot in 2019 Meistriliiga.

Results

Each team played every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away. A total of 180 matches has been played, with 36 matches played by each team.

Season statistics

Hat-tricks

4 Player scored 4 goals

Average attendance

ClubAverage attendance
Tallinna FC Flora559
Tartu JK Tammeka444
Nõmme Kalju FC404
Viljandi JK Tulevik278
FCI Levadia262
Pärnu JK Vaprus260
JK Narva Trans250
JK Tallinna Kalev199
Paide Linnameeskond187
FC Kuressaare113
League average296

Awards

Meistriliiga Player of the Year

Zakaria Beglarishvili was named Meistriliiga Player of the Year.

Goal of the Year

Tõnis Vihmoja's goal against Paide Linnameeskond was chosen Goal of the Year.

Player transfers

  • [List of Estonian association football|football transfers winter 2017–18|Winter 2017–18] – before the season
  • Summer 2018 – during the season