Lech Poznań hosts the Finnish team KuPS Kuopio today at 9:00 PM in the return leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off. Thanks to the 2:0 away win, the Polish champions find themselves in a comfortable situation, although coach Niels Frederiksen warns against underestimating the opponent. At stake is not only a place in the round of 16 but also valuable points for the UEFA country ranking, crucial for the future privileges of Polish clubs.

Kolejorz's Comfortable Advantage

The 2:0 victory in Finland places Lech Poznań as the clear favorite ahead of Thursday's return leg at home.

Squad Issues and Returns

Daniel Hakans is ready to play for a short period, while Filip Jagiełło is sidelined due to injury.

UEFA Ranking Points

Every victory by a Polish club brings the Ekstraklasa closer to maintaining a high position, which facilitates the path to the Champions League.

The Poznań locomotive seems to be getting back on track after a series of four consecutive victories in all competitions. The away win in Tampere against KuPS Kuopio gave Lech a solid advantage, but the coaching staff emphasizes that the picture from the first match might have been somewhat misleading. The opponents played with a numerical disadvantage from the 12th minute after a red card, which made the task easier for Kolejorz. In Poznań, the hosts want to avoid nerves and secure promotion to the next round with minimal effort, especially with the upcoming Ekstraklasa clash against Raków Częstochowa on the horizon. The squad situation for Lech is relatively stable, though not without problems. Daniel Hakans is back at the coach's disposal, but he can only count on a maximum of half an hour of play after recovering from injury. Meanwhile, Filip Jagiełło must rest for about a week due to a muscle injury. The Finns, led by Miika Nuutinen, promise to fight until the end, hoping for a football miracle at the Municipal Stadium on Bułgarska Street. Polish fans are also closely following the efforts of Jagiellonia Białystok, who in Florence are trying to overcome a three-goal deficit after their home defeat to Fiorentina. Since 2021, the UEFA Conference League has been the third tier of European club competitions, giving teams from leagues with lower coefficients, such as the PKO BP Ekstraklasa, a chance to earn regular points.The match for the round of 16 is also a battle for financial prestige. Each club receives a bonus of 800 thousand euros for advancing to this stage. Poland currently holds 12th place in the UEFA country ranking, and maintaining a solid points tally could in the future result in the country's champion gaining direct entry to the league phase of the Champions League. The editorial team predicts that Lech will play cautiously in defense and utilize their technical advantage over the Finnish rival, who are still in their pre-season cycle as their domestic league only starts in April. „Always in football, you can lose. We realize we are in a favorable position, but I have already warned my players that it will not be easy at all, as the opponent is dangerous.” — Niels Frederiksen

Mentioned People

  • Niels Frederiksen — Coach of Lech Poznań, Danish manager.
  • Mikael Ishak — Striker and captain of Lech Poznań.
  • Miika Nuutinen — Coach of the Finnish team KuPS Kuopio.