Legia Warsaw and Jagiellonia Białystok have maintained their 100% records in the UEFA Conference League, with both Polish sides registering emphatic victories to make it three wins out of three in the group stage.
However, it was off-field events that made the headlines at Legia, with fans of the Warsaw club using the match against Dinamo Minsk on Thursday night to voice their opposition against the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
In the lead-up to kick-off, it had been revealed that the match would not be screened by Belarusian TV channels amid fears of anti-government protests, which proved to be true.
Legia’s supporters used the occasion to hang three banners, one of which demanded “Freedom for Poles persecuted by Lukashenko.”
More bluntly, another declared: “Death to Lukashenko and his henchmen for destroying the graves of Polish heroes.”
While the visiting club had turned down the chance to sell its own followers tickets for the away sector, a 100-strong contingent of Belarusians did enter the pen, with several waving red-and-white Belarusian flags—a flag banned under Lukashenko's dictatorship.
On the pitch, Legia cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win, with Luquinhas and Marc Gual each scoring a brace. The Brazilian Luquinhas opened the scoring on ten minutes, and Legia doubled their lead on 50 minutes after Gual slotted in from the penalty spot.
In the lead-up to kick-off, it had been revealed that the match would not be screened by Belarusian TV channels amid fears of anti-government protests, which proved to be true.
Legia’s supporters used the occasion to hang three banners, one of which demanded “Freedom for Poles persecuted by Lukashenko.”
More bluntly, another declared: “Death to Lukashenko and his henchmen for destroying the graves of Polish heroes.”
While the visiting club had turned down the chance to sell its own followers tickets for the away sector, a 100-strong contingent of Belarusians did enter the pen, with several waving red-and-white Belarusian flags—a flag banned under Lukashenko's dictatorship.
With both sets of fans united in chanting against Lukashenko, tempers could be seen flaring in the away section after security personnel moved in to confiscate anti-authoritarian banners.✊ Le tifo des supporter du Dynamo Minsk ce soir à Varsovie
— OhMyEkstraklasa 🎙️ (@OhMyEkstraklasa) November 7, 2024
"les voix sont réduites au silence mais ne doivent pas être oubliées - Libérez tous les prisonniers politiques"#LegiaDynamo #LEGDIM pic.twitter.com/IewUSs6h1q
On the pitch, Legia cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win, with Luquinhas and Marc Gual each scoring a brace. The Brazilian Luquinhas opened the scoring on ten minutes, and Legia doubled their lead on 50 minutes after Gual slotted in from the penalty spot.
Five minutes later, Luquinhas made it three, capping a sweeping attack with a smart chip over the helpless Dinamo goalie, Fiodor Łapuchow.
After a largely turgid first half, Legia were looking rampant, and in the 59th minute they again carved Dinamo open with Gual tapping in from close range to make it four.
As things stand, Legia are yet to concede in the group stage, with only Atalanta and Inter Milan able to boast the same.
In the northeast, reigning Polish champions Jagiellonia made it a perfect night for Polish football after soundly thrashing Norwegian side Molde 3-0.
Taking just six minutes to open the scoring, Afimico Pululu was on hand to stroke the ball home after Jarosław Kubicki’s header had rattled the crossbar.
Having missed a host of chances in the first half, Jagiellonia would have to wait until the 60th minute to put the game out of reach, with Kristoffer Hansen smashing in from the edge of the box after being released by a glorious pass from Jesús Imaz.
After Imaz had a goal disallowed following a VAR review, Hansen then doubled his tally on 75 minutes to cap another glory night for Jaga.
Last night’s results put Legia and Jaga second and third in the table, with only Chelsea above them on goal difference. Now looking increasingly likely to qualify for the knockout stages, both Polish clubs return to action in three weeks.
Legia will travel to the Cypriot side Omonoia, while Jagiellonia will face NK Celje in Slovenia.
After a largely turgid first half, Legia were looking rampant, and in the 59th minute they again carved Dinamo open with Gual tapping in from close range to make it four.
As things stand, Legia are yet to concede in the group stage, with only Atalanta and Inter Milan able to boast the same.
In the northeast, reigning Polish champions Jagiellonia made it a perfect night for Polish football after soundly thrashing Norwegian side Molde 3-0.
Taking just six minutes to open the scoring, Afimico Pululu was on hand to stroke the ball home after Jarosław Kubicki’s header had rattled the crossbar.
Having missed a host of chances in the first half, Jagiellonia would have to wait until the 60th minute to put the game out of reach, with Kristoffer Hansen smashing in from the edge of the box after being released by a glorious pass from Jesús Imaz.
After Imaz had a goal disallowed following a VAR review, Hansen then doubled his tally on 75 minutes to cap another glory night for Jaga.
Last night’s results put Legia and Jaga second and third in the table, with only Chelsea above them on goal difference. Now looking increasingly likely to qualify for the knockout stages, both Polish clubs return to action in three weeks.
Legia will travel to the Cypriot side Omonoia, while Jagiellonia will face NK Celje in Slovenia.
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