Lech Poznan will face Jagiellonia Białystok in a postponed Ekstraklasa top-of-the-table clash with a weakened squad. Key player Antoni Kozubal will miss the match due to an ankle injury, as confirmed by coach Niels Frederiksen in comments reported by Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
The match, originally scheduled for August 23rd, will be played on Thursday at 20:30 at Stadion Poznań. Both clubs had the fixture postponed due to their involvement in Europa League qualifiers. Lech and Jagiellonia successfully advanced to the group stage of that competition and are now focused on the league battle. A win for the hosts would put them alone at the top of the table with a game in hand over Legia Warsaw.
Who will replace the injured Kozubal?
Antoni Kozubal suffered an ankle injury in the last match in Łódź and will be out for several weeks. His return is planned only after the international break, around October 10th. Kozubal has been a key starter for the team this season. His place could be taken by Gustav Berggren, who is ready to play.
Additionally, Radek Murawski and Filip Jagiełło are available for selection. Captain Mikael Ishak is fully fit again after hamstring issues. Leo Bengtsson and Joao Moutinho have been training with the squad for the last week and a half. Daniel Hakans is expected back soon, possibly next week. Alex Douglas's availability is uncertain. Coach Frederiksen admits that rotation and managing a large squad is a challenge, but the club has experience from last year's Europa Conference League group stage campaign.
How does coach Frederiksen rate the opponent?
Niels Frederiksen does not expect a closed, tactical affair. "On the contrary, I assume it will be an open match, because that is the style both teams prefer," said the Danish coach. He also praised the quality of the team from Białystok.
"Jagiellonia is a team that has a good coach and high-class players. They have been working together for many seasons, they have their philosophy." Frederiksen added. A win for the visitors would see them draw level on points with Legia, also with one game in hand.
What is Lech's current league situation?
Lech Poznan sits first in the Ekstraklasa after five matchdays with 13 points. Their record is four wins, one draw, and zero losses. The team's recent form reads WWWWD. Opponents have scored only four goals against them, while Lech has found the net ten times, giving them a +6 goal difference. They hold a one-point lead over Legia Warszawa.
Before the international break starting on September 21st, Lech has four more league games and one Europa League match to play. This will be their 12th official match of the season. The upcoming schedule can be followed on our fixtures page.
When is Lech's next league fixture?
After Thursday's clash with Jagiellonia, Lech Poznan's next league test is on December 17th. Then, Niels Frederiksen's team will travel for an away match against Wisła Płock, who currently occupy 16th place in the table. All scheduled Europa League matches will, of course, be played before that date. The current position of all teams in the Ekstraklasa can be checked in the league standings.
