Polish football’s European ambitions have been left hanging by a thread after Legia Warsaw and Jagiellonia Białystok were both emphatically beaten in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinals.
Legia faced the sterner test, taking the field against competition favorites Chelsea on Thursday night in Warsaw. Early hopes that they would make their home advantage count, however, were to prove wildly optimistic.
Taking time to adapt to the bearpit atmosphere, the London giants played poorly in the first half but flew out of the traps in the second half to take the lead in the 49th minute when keeper Kacper Tobiasz parried Reece James’ long-range shot into the path of 19-year-old Tyrique George.
George, who looked lively throughout, made no mistake, slotting in from close range to nudge Chelsea in front. Chelsea then doubled their lead eight minutes later when substitute Noni Madueke swept the ball home from 12 yards after being set up by Jadon Sancho.
Taking time to adapt to the bearpit atmosphere, the London giants played poorly in the first half but flew out of the traps in the second half to take the lead in the 49th minute when keeper Kacper Tobiasz parried Reece James’ long-range shot into the path of 19-year-old Tyrique George.
George, who looked lively throughout, made no mistake, slotting in from close range to nudge Chelsea in front. Chelsea then doubled their lead eight minutes later when substitute Noni Madueke swept the ball home from 12 yards after being set up by Jadon Sancho.
Smelling blood, Chelsea made the second leg a formality when Madueke added to his tally, tapping into the net on 74 minutes after a searching pass from Sancho left Legia flatfooted.
Legia coach Gonçalo Feio was magnanimous in defeat. “You have to appreciate the class of the opponent,” he told reporters, adding that the match-up between Legia and one of Europe’s richest clubs had been “a clash between two [different] worlds.”
In Spain, Polish champions Jagiellonia Białystok fared little better and were comfortably outclassed by Real Betis.
Betis, who registered 27 shots against Jagiellonia’s meager four, took the lead on 24 minutes after Cédric Bakambu latched onto a pass from Pablo Fornals. The hosts then made it two just before the break after Jesús Rodríguez pounced on Bakambu’s deflection.
Jagiellonia struggled to find their way into the game but return to Poland with more than just a slither of hope, having done well to keep Betis at bay for the rest of the game.
Legia coach Gonçalo Feio was magnanimous in defeat. “You have to appreciate the class of the opponent,” he told reporters, adding that the match-up between Legia and one of Europe’s richest clubs had been “a clash between two [different] worlds.”
Jagiellonia stumbles in Spain
In Spain, Polish champions Jagiellonia Białystok fared little better and were comfortably outclassed by Real Betis.
Betis, who registered 27 shots against Jagiellonia’s meager four, took the lead on 24 minutes after Cédric Bakambu latched onto a pass from Pablo Fornals. The hosts then made it two just before the break after Jesús Rodríguez pounced on Bakambu’s deflection.
Jagiellonia struggled to find their way into the game but return to Poland with more than just a slither of hope, having done well to keep Betis at bay for the rest of the game.
The night, however, was overshadowed by crowd trouble in the visitors’ section with video footage showing Jagiellonia’s supporters bombarding police officers with missiles before chasing them from their sector.
Both Legia and Jagiellonia will be looking to overturn their deficits when they return to European action next Thursday.
Both Legia and Jagiellonia will be looking to overturn their deficits when they return to European action next Thursday.
Jagiellonia clashing with police away at Betis tonight pic.twitter.com/WBLXplTWA8
— 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@thecasualultra) April 10, 2025
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