Stories of the Round

20 goals scored (2.22 avg/game). 5 wins for the home teams, 3 for the visitors, 1 tie. Arka Gdynia won their first game away from home (also three goals doubled their total scoring output on the road this season). Wisła Płock lost their 5th in a row (will they lose their coach Mariusz Misiura next?). Widzew Łódź ended Lech Poznań’s four-game winning streak. Legia Warszawa are now unbeaten in 5 (2W/3T), but still can not climb above the relegation zone. From the group of 7 strikers with at least 10 Ekstraklasa goals this season only Raków Częstochowa’s Jonatan Braut Brunes increased his scoring tally. 

DON'T MISS THE POLISH PKO BP EKSTRAKLASA ON beIN SPORTS

Lubin keep on rolling

Zagłębie Lubin are the hottest team in Ekstraklasa! The Copper Boys extended their winning streak to 3 games and are unbeaten in the last 5. This time Leszek Ojrzyński’s (named the Coach of the Month for February) side took care of business in Gliwice, where they came back from a 0:1 deficit to score three unanswered against Piast. A recent surge of great form allowed Zagłębie to take the shocking lead in the standings (last time they were that high that late in the season was in 2007). Can they go all the way like they did in 1990/91 and 2006/07?

Cirkovic shines in Jaga showdown

It was to be a battle between the Ekstraklasa’s best strikers: Tomas Bobcek (Lechia) and Jesus Imaz / Afimico Pululu (Jagiellonia). But the show was stolen by a 24-year old Serbian Aleksandar Cirkovic. A Ferencvaros’ loanee scored a double (Bobcek assisted on the second strike) and sealed a surprising 3:0 victory for John Carver’s team. It was the first clean sheet for New Zealand’s international Alex Paulsen since September 12th (15 games), 8th game for Lechia with at least 3 goals scored (league’s best) and only a third away loss this season for Jaga, who also lost the top spot in the league.

What to look out for in Round 25?

It could be a crucial week for teams eyeing the spots in Europe. In Lubin the league leaders Zagłębie are taking on the defending champions Lech Poznań. Over the last 5 weeks both teams are the best in Ekstraklasa (Zagłębie 4W/1T, Lech 4W/1L). Zagłębie suffered only one loss in 12 home games, but Lech have collected the most points (19) in 12 games on the road. The side from Poznań could be at a small disadvantage due to their Thursday, March 12th Conference League first-leg playoff encounter vs Shakhtar Donetsk.  

In Zabrze Górnik, who are winless in 5 (2T/3L), will square off against Raków Częstochowa. A victory for the home side will allow them to overtake Raków for the #4 spot in the standings. It will be a tall order since the visitors won half of their 12 away games this season and registered 4 clean sheets in the last 6 games. Side note: Raków will also see some important, mid-week Conference League action. They travel to Florence, where recently Fiorentina knocked out Jagiellonia despite a thrilling 4:2 win for the team from Białystok. 

Round 24:
Korona Kielce - Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza 2:1 (Pięczek 43’ Sotiriou 52’ - Durdov 58’)
Lechia Gdańsk - Jagiellonia Białystok 3:0 (Kapic 43’ Cirkovic 81’ 90’)
Piast Gliwice - Zagłębie Lubin 1:3 (Tomasiewicz 22’ - Corluka 27’ Michalski 69’ Kosidis 89’)

Widzew Łódź - Lech Poznań 2:1 (Alvarez 34’ Kornvig 52’ - Thordarson 28’)

Motor Lublin - Górnik Zabrze 0:0

Radomiak Radom - GKS Katowice 0:1 (Jędrych 45’)

Raków Częstochowa - Pogoń Szczecin 2:0 (Brunes 10’ Makuch 73’, red: Hussein Ali, Pogoń)
Legia Warsaw - Cracovia 1:0 (Rajovic 31’)

Wisła Płock - Arka Gdynia 0:3 (Kocyła 50’ Gutkovskis 62’ Rusyn 82’)

Top scorers:

14 - Bobcek (Lechia)

13 - Czubak (Motor)

12 - Ishak (Lech), Brunes (Raków) (+1)

11 - Bergier (Widzew)

10 - Jesus Imaz, Pululu (Jagiellonia)

Round 25:
Friday, March 13th:
Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza (18) - Motor Lublin (13), Radomiak Radom (10) - Legia Warsaw (16)

Saturday, March 14th:
Jagiellonia Białystok (2) - Piast Gliwice (14), GKS Katowice (9) - Lechia Gdańsk (11), Cracovia (7) - Wisła Płock (8)

Sunday, March 15th:
Arka Gdynia (15) - Widzew Łódź (17), Zagłębie Lubin (1) - Lech Poznań (3), Górnik Zabrze (5) - Raków Częstochowa (4)

Monday, March 16th:
Pogoń Szczecin (12) - Korona Kielce (7)

WATCH beIN SPORTS XTRA LIVE FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE