3 Big Questions for the Polish Ekstraklasa Weekend LIVE on beIN SPORTS
Is Lech Poznań unstoppable, and can Legia bounce back in a big Ekstraklasa weekend?
Until last Sunday, Górnik led the Ekstraklasa table, but a draw against Widzew in Łódź and Lech Poznań’s victory in Warsaw knocked the team out of first place.
The Miners’ stars, Kacper Urbański (5 goals) and Dominican Republic international Peter Federico (4 goals), will try to return their team to winning ways and hand Legia its second straight defeat.
The Soldiers have yet to lose an away fixture, but they will face Górnik without one of their leading scorers, Rafał Adamski.
The last time these two teams met in Zabrze, the home side claimed a 3-1 victory, and Kacper Urbański was playing for… Legia.
Today, both sides look completely different, as Legia’s defense, featuring Kamil Piątkowski, Rafał Augustyniak and 21-year-old American Robert Deziel Jr., is among the league's best.
Arena Zabrze will be filled to the brim for this top-of-the-table Polish classic, and the atmosphere promises to be wild.
Friday: Górnik Zabrze (2nd) vs. Legia Warszawa (4th) — LIVE on beIN SPORTS CONNECT
David vs. Goliath: Can Wisła Halt the Greatest Lech Team in History?
The two-time defending champions, Lech Poznań, return to their Bułgarska Street home after an impressive 2-1 victory over Legia in Warsaw, sealed by Honduran star Luis Palma.
Those three points catapulted them into first place in the standings and helped them break the record for the best start to a campaign in the club's history.
In just 12 games, Palma, Pablo Rodríguez and Patrik Wålemark have collected 28 points, and they are hungry for more.
Next up for Niels Frederiksen’s boys, who have won five straight in Poznań, including a 6-1 thrashing of Korona Kielce and a 5-1 victory over Radomiak Radom in their last two home games, are Wisła Kraków.
The Ekstraklasa newcomers recently broke one of their own records. Last weekend’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Raków Częstochowa, secured with a winner in the 10th minute of added time, was their sixth consecutive home win to start the season.
The problem for Mariusz Jop’s team is that they don't perform nearly as well away from Kraków. Therefore, stealing a draw against the best team in Poland on Halloween night would be a real treat.
Saturday: Lech Poznań vs. Wisła Kraków — LIVE on beIN SPORTS XTRA
Cup Progress for Raków, History Chase for Pogoń?
Nobody in Poland expected that after 12 rounds, Raków Częstochowa would be looking up at everyone else in the standings.
But as of today, last season’s fourth-best side has collected only six points and conceded a league-worst 28 goals.
Not everything is bleak for the “Praying Medallions,” who feature New York-born 18-year-old Adam Basse. They head into Monday's meeting with Pogoń Szczecin after advancing to the Round of 16 of the Polish Cup.
The Dockers’ domestic cup campaign ended back in September. They have shifted all their focus to the league, where they have been simply outstanding.
Unbeaten since the opening round, they have won five straight matches, including two on the road.
The hottest team in Poland features players such as Jordi Sánchez (the league's leading scorer with nine goals), Valentin Cojocaru (the best in Ekstraklasa with five clean sheets), 38-year-old Kamil Grosicki (who last week became the oldest Polish player to score a brace in Ekstraklasa) and 31-year-old former USMNT player Kellyn Acosta.
They now have their sights set on a record-setting sixth consecutive victory.
Monday, 2:30 PM ET: Raków Częstochowa vs. Pogoń Szczecin — LIVE on beIN SPORTS
