The race for the Polish championship is heating up after the key matches of the 22nd round of the Ekstraklasa. Lech Poznań defeated Korona Kielce away, capitalizing on the stumble of league leaders Jagiellonia Białystok, who only managed a draw with Radomiak. Kolejorz now trails the leader by just two points, promising an exciting finish to the season. Meanwhile, both top teams are preparing for decisive clashes in European competitions.

Lech's Rise to the Podium

The victory over Korona Kielce allowed Kolejorz to take the runner-up spot in the table, trailing the leader by just two points.

Jagiellonia's Stumble

The 1:1 draw with Radomiak Radom complicated the situation for the Polish champions in their fight to defend the title.

Cup Challenges

Both Polish teams are preparing for decisive matches for advancement in the Conference League.

Lech Poznań took a major step towards reclaiming the championship title by winning an away match against Korona Kielce. The team led by Niels Frederiksen displayed two starkly different phases of play. The first half was marked by absolute dominance by the visitors, which the coach described as the best 45 minutes of the entire season. In the second half, however, the Lech players had to show determination in defense, repelling the hosts' attacks. Thanks to this victory, Poznań jumped to the runner-up position in the table, pushing Cracovia down. At the same time, Jagiellonia Białystok shared points with Radomiak Radom, drawing 1:1 at home. Despite optical dominance and many scoring opportunities, Adrian Siemieniec's players failed to tip the scales of victory in their favor. The leader dropping points means their advantage over the surging Lech has shrunk to a minimum. Experts point out that the key problem for the Białystok side was efficiency in attack, although before the match concerns were mainly about the defensive line due to squad absences. The rivalry between Lech and Jagiellonia for domestic supremacy harks back to historical struggles from the 1980s, when the Poznań club was building its power, and football from Białystok was only aspiring to join the national elite. The current dominance of these two centers breaks the decade-long duopoly of Legia Warszawa and Raków Częstochowa. Simultaneously, both clubs are grappling with the difficulties of combining domestic play with appearances in the Conference League. Jagiellonia is preparing for a prestigious return match against Italian Fiorentina, and the players are promising to fight for victory despite their underdog status. Lech also faces the chance to advance to the next play-off round, which necessitates squad rotation. The table situation is dynamic, and the weaker form of Legia Warszawa, which has again lost ground to the top, means the main race for the gold is now concentrated around Poznań and Białystok. „To było najlepsze 45 minut w sezonie. Graliśmy fantastycznie, dyktując tempo gry i kontrolując każdy fragment boiska.” — Niels Frederiksen Results of Key Matches in Round 22: Korona Kielce 1:2 Lech Poznań; Jagiellonia Białystok 1:1 Radomiak Radom Top of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa Table: 1. Jagiellonia Białystok — 48 pts; 2. Lech Poznań — 46 pts; 3. Cracovia — 45 pts

Mentioned People

  • Niels Frederiksen — Coach of Lech Poznań, praised for the team's offensive style of play in the match against Korona Kielce.
  • Adrian Siemieniec — Manager of Jagiellonia Białystok, facing the pressure of maintaining the top position in the Ekstraklasa.