The cup season picks up pace following the official draw for the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 in Nyon. Raków Częstochowa and Lech Poznań, Poland's only representatives in the competition, will face demanding opponents from Italy and the Czech Republic. Experts and bookmakers assess the Polish clubs' chances of advancing to the quarter-finals as realistic but warn against underestimating rivals who regularly play in European cups. The first legs are scheduled for March.

Tough Draw for Raków

The Polish champion will face Italian Fiorentina, a finalist in previous editions of the competition.

Lech to Battle Czechs

Kolejorz will play against Sigma Olomouc, giving high hopes for advancement to the next phase.

Polish Duel in Europe

The Europa League draw produced pairs that will pit Polish national team players against each other.

Friday's draw in Swiss Nyon decided the fate of Polish teams in European cups. Raków Częstochowa, the current Polish champions, drew the challenging team ACF Fiorentina, considered one of the toughest matchups of this stage. Meanwhile, Lech Poznań will face Czech side Sigma Olomouc, theoretically giving Kolejorz more room for maneuver, although the Czech team eliminated German side Mainz 05 in the previous round. Both Polish clubs enter the competition hoping to repeat the historic successes of past seasons, when Polish brands became revelations in continental struggles. Europa Conference League has become an opportunity for Polish teams to earn real revenue and build the country's coefficient. Simultaneously, the draw for the Europa League took place, which will also feature Polish accents. A rare situation occurred where teams with Polish players in their squads will meet in a direct duel, dubbed a "Polish match" by the media. It's worth noting that the squad situations of many teams ahead of the round of 16 are dynamic. For example, Łukasz Skorupski and Karol Świderski are set to play key roles for their foreign clubs, further heating up the atmosphere around the upcoming matches. Fans at home hope that good cup performances will translate into form for the Polish national team players ahead of the upcoming qualifiers. Since the UEFA competition reform in 2021 and the creation of the Europa Conference League, Polish clubs regularly reach the knockout stages, significantly improving Poland's position in the UEFA country coefficient compared to previous years. Bookmakers and sports analysts remain moderate optimists, pointing to Raków's solid defensive form and Lech's offensive potential. Although Fiorentina is the favorite in the two-legged tie with the Częstochowa side, the Polish champion's style based on tactical discipline could spring a surprise. For Lech Poznań, it will be crucial to decide the tie in the first leg to avoid a nervy finish in the return match on the opponent's turf. Quarter-finals remain the minimum goal declared by the boards of both Polish clubs. „Naszym celem jest pokazanie polskiej jakości na tle uznanych europejskich marek.” (Our goal is to show Polish quality against established European brands.) — Dawid Szwarga

Mentioned People

  • Dawid Szwarga — Coach of Raków Częstochowa, commenting on the draw results and team preparations.
  • Łukasz Skorupski — Polish goalkeeper playing for a foreign club, participant in the knockout stage.
  • Karol Świderski — Polish national team player competing in European cups for a foreign club.