Lech Poznań and Raków Częstochowa Face a Tough Challenge in the Knockout Stage

Analysis of the Conference League round of 16 draw indicates an extremely difficult path for the Polish teams to advance further in the competition. Lech Poznań, after eliminating previous opponents, will face Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian club, a regular participant in the group stage of the Champions League, boasts a budget and squad far exceeding Polish realities. Nevertheless, the coach of "Kolejorz", Niels Frederiksen, expressed satisfaction with drawing such a renowned opponent, arguing that only clashes with such teams allow for genuine squad development. Experts, however, point to the excellent technical training of the Donetsk players, which could pose a barrier difficult to overcome in the physical playing conditions of the Ekstraklasa. Meanwhile, Raków Częstochowa will face the finalist of the previous edition of the tournament, Italian ACF Fiorentina. The team from Florence, known for its offensive style of play and high pressing, recently eliminated Jagiellonia Białystok, serving as a warning for the coaching staff from Częstochowa. Italian media, commenting on the pairing, describe Raków as a team with incredible tactical discipline, heralding a clash of two different football philosophies: Tuscan fantasy versus Polish pragmatism. The challenge is even greater as the return legs will be played at the theoretically stronger opponents' stadiums, placing the Polish sides in the position of contenders, not favorites, in the eyes of bookmakers. Poland has been systematically strengthening its position in the UEFA country ranking in recent years, which translates into a greater number of spots in European cups and better seeding for Polish teams in qualifying rounds. An additional aspect stirring emotions is the location of Shakhtar's home match. According to the latest reports, the Donetsk club is not considering playing on Polish territory, preferring stadiums in Germany. This stance has met with mixed reactions from the public, especially in the context of previous cooperation between the two countries in organizing sports events. For the Polish clubs, the stakes of the two-legged ties are not only prestige and UEFA financial bonuses reaching millions of euros but also crucial points for the country coefficient. Success for Lech or Raków could definitively seal a record-breaking season in terms of the ranking, which in the perspective of coming years would pave the way to easier qualifying paths for other Polish teams. „Shakhtar is a great club with huge experience, but it is precisely against such opponents that we want to compete to show our value in Europe.” — Niels Frederiksen