Lech Poznań and Raków Częstochowa to Battle for Conference League Quarterfinals

The ceremony at UEFA headquarters in Nyon determined the sporting fate of the last Polish representatives in European competitions. The Conference League enters its decisive phase, and the Polish clubs have drawn opponents from the top shelf. Lech Poznań, led by Niels Frederiksen, will play a two-legged tie against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian team, a regular in the Champions League, dropped to the lower competition, making it one of the favorites for the final triumph. The coach of "Kolejorz" admitted that Shakhtar was his dream opponent due to the club's reputation, although experts warn of the rival's high level of technical play. Simultaneously, Raków Częstochowa is preparing for a clash with ACF Fiorentina, last season's tournament finalist. The Italian team is well-known to Polish fans from earlier rivalries with Jagiellonia Białystok, whom the Florence-based team eliminated. Italian media, analyzing the draw, describe Raków as a "disciplined monolith," suggesting the Polish champion's defensive approach in the clash with the Tuscan team's offensive style. The successes of both clubs in this edition have already resulted in significant financial rewards, estimated to have exceeded several million euros, which represents a substantial boost to the Ekstraklasa budgets. Since 2021, Polish clubs have shown systematic progress in UEFA rankings, allowing Poland to climb to around 12th place, guaranteeing better seeding in future editions. An interesting non-sporting subplot remains the issue of the stadium where Shakhtar will play its home match. Reports indicate the Ukrainian side does not want to play in Poland, forcing a search for a location, including in Germany. Bookmakers, while acknowledging the class of the opponents, give the Polish clubs a chance to put up a balanced fight, especially in their home matches. Behind the scenes, it is said that advancing to the quarterfinals is the absolute minimum goal in the context of fighting for the national coefficient points. Motor preparation will be key for both coaches, as March is traditionally an intense period in domestic league competitions, which will test the depth of Lech's and Raków's squads. „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