Friday's draw in Nyon defined the path for Polish clubs in European competitions. Lech Poznań will face Shakhtar Donetsk, while Raków Częstochowa will host Italian side Fiorentina. Although bookmakers and experts point to a difficult journey for both teams, the financial and ranking results achieved so far already constitute a historic success for Polish club football, bringing the Ekstraklasa closer to higher positions in the UEFA standings.

Tough draw for the Poles

Lech Poznań will play Shakhtar Donetsk, while Raków Częstochowa will face Italian side ACF Fiorentina.

Controversy over the stadium

Shakhtar Donetsk is considering playing their home match outside Poland, despite the hospitality they have received in the country so far.

Historic club earnings

Thanks to their advancement, Polish teams have secured record financial inflows from the UEFA budget.

The draw ceremony for the Europa Conference League round of 16 in Swiss Nyon brought extreme emotions to Polish fans. Lech Poznań, continuing their cup campaign, drew Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. This rivalry sparks interest not only from a sporting but also a logistical perspective. Ukrainian media and representatives of the Donetsk club suggest a reluctance to play their home match in Poland, forcing them to seek alternative locations in Germany or Hungary. Meanwhile, Raków Częstochowa will face an extremely difficult challenge, taking on last season's finalist, ACF Fiorentina. The Italians, despite some fluctuations in league form, remain one of the main favorites to win the entire competition. The Conference League was dominated by a mood of moderate optimism mixed with realism. Experts emphasize that both Polish teams avoided potentially the toughest opponents, such as Premier League sides, but Fiorentina is a well-established brand on the continent. Sports media from Spain, Germany, and France also noted other pairings, including the clash between VfB Stuttgart and FC Porto in the Europa League and the duel between Real Betis Sevilla and Panathinaikos Athens, led by Rafa Benitez. Foreign commentators view the Polish club pairings as a "lucky draw" for their opponents, which could serve as additional motivation for the players under Polish coaches. Since 2021, the Europa Conference League has become an opportunity for Polish clubs to regularly play in the knockout stages, which directly translates to an increase in the country's UEFA ranking.The added value of this year's successes are the significant financial inflows. Polish clubs have already earned millions of euros in UEFA bonuses, which will allow for further squad reinforcements. Simultaneously, the battle for the UEFA ranking continues, where Poland has a real chance to advance into Europe's top fifteen, which would guarantee two spots in the Champions League qualifiers. Although Jagiellonia Białystok bid farewell to their promotion dreams, the performances of Lech and Raków are building a foundation for a stable position of the Ekstraklasa on the map of continental football. „Honestly, we didn\'t want to play another match in Poland. We are looking for a different solution for our fans.” (Honestly, we didn't want to play another match in Poland. We are looking for a different solution for our fans.) — Marino Pušić Shakhtar Donetsk has been forced to play away from their own stadium for years due to the armed conflict, and Poland has become their main home in European competitions.

Perspektywy mediów: Media focused on Raków emphasize the chance to cause an upset against Fiorentina. Domestic conservative media highlight the financial success and pride in representing Poland in Europe.

Mentioned People

  • Rafa Benitez — Manager of Panathinaikos Athens, who will face Real Betis Sevilla.
  • Łukasz Skorupski — Polish goalkeeper distinguished by his form ahead of the national team's playoff matches.