As the Europa Conference League proper begins on Thursday evening, Polish clubs Jagiellonia Białystok and Legia Warsaw will be seeking relief from their thus-far unconvincing domestic campaigns.
Legia have the more eye-catching fixture of the two, taking on Spanish side Real Betis in Warsaw. The team from the Polish capital could be forgiven for going into the match with a degree of trepidation following a particularly underwhelming start to their campaign in the top-tier national Ekstraklasa league.
Betis, meanwhile, have started their La Liga season relatively well, with midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso looking particularly impressive, scoring in each of his last four matches.
Legia, on the other hand, are experiencing a sluggish start in view of their own lofty expectations. Recent losses to Raków and Pogoń Szczecin leave them in seventh position, and their performances have heaped pressure on young Portuguese coach Gonçalo Feio.
Jagiellonia, who hail from the far northeast of Poland, also began the season rather slowly.
Having unexpectedly won last season’s Ekstraklasa, they were entered into this season’s Champions League qualifiers, in which they played four matches. After being knocked out, they then played two legs against Ajax before slipping down into the Europa Conference League.
The additional six matches proved grueling for Adrian Siemieniec’s side. However, the recent let-up in continental football has allowed them to regroup and regain domestic form.
They have looked much more like champions in recent weeks. Aside from a 5-0 thrashing away to league leaders Lech Poznań, they have won four of their last five games, which leaves them in second place.
Jagiellonia kick off their Europa Conference League campaign away to Danish side FC Copenhagen. The Danes will be awkward opponents, although they will be without young Swedish star Roony Bardghji, who is out with a long-term injury. The Poles will nevertheless have to be alert to the threat of former Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Their opening matches aside, the two Polish clubs have been handed fairly favorable fixtures. They will play six matches each in the new league format, competing in a 36-team league.
While neither Polish side have realistic ambitions of reaching the latter stages of the tournament, if Legia can lift themselves out of their recent slump, and Jagiellonia continue their recent upturn, both teams are capable of finishing in the top 24, which would see them advance to the next phase.
Betis, meanwhile, have started their La Liga season relatively well, with midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso looking particularly impressive, scoring in each of his last four matches.
Legia, on the other hand, are experiencing a sluggish start in view of their own lofty expectations. Recent losses to Raków and Pogoń Szczecin leave them in seventh position, and their performances have heaped pressure on young Portuguese coach Gonçalo Feio.
Jagiellonia, who hail from the far northeast of Poland, also began the season rather slowly.
Having unexpectedly won last season’s Ekstraklasa, they were entered into this season’s Champions League qualifiers, in which they played four matches. After being knocked out, they then played two legs against Ajax before slipping down into the Europa Conference League.
The additional six matches proved grueling for Adrian Siemieniec’s side. However, the recent let-up in continental football has allowed them to regroup and regain domestic form.
They have looked much more like champions in recent weeks. Aside from a 5-0 thrashing away to league leaders Lech Poznań, they have won four of their last five games, which leaves them in second place.
Awkward opponents
Jagiellonia kick off their Europa Conference League campaign away to Danish side FC Copenhagen. The Danes will be awkward opponents, although they will be without young Swedish star Roony Bardghji, who is out with a long-term injury. The Poles will nevertheless have to be alert to the threat of former Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Their opening matches aside, the two Polish clubs have been handed fairly favorable fixtures. They will play six matches each in the new league format, competing in a 36-team league.
While neither Polish side have realistic ambitions of reaching the latter stages of the tournament, if Legia can lift themselves out of their recent slump, and Jagiellonia continue their recent upturn, both teams are capable of finishing in the top 24, which would see them advance to the next phase.
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