Hosts Banik Ostrava will aim to take a first-leg lead against Legia Warsaw in the second round of their Europa League qualifiers on Thursday at Mestsky Stadion.

Banik were entered automatically into the second round of qualifying after finishing third in the Czech top flight in 2024-25, whereas the Polish visitors beat Aktobe 2-0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round earlier in July.

Match preview

The home side began their new league season on Saturday, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against Bohemians 1905, a game in which they did their not create a single big chance.

Banik did keep 14 clean sheets in 35 top-flight games last term – the third-best return of the 16 teams in the division – and that figure was five more than they managed in 2023-24.

Boss Pavel Hapal will know that his side have never qualified for the Europa League, as well as that his team have been historically poor in Europe, with the club losing on penalties against Copenhagen in the third round of the Conference League qualifiers in 2024-25.

Chachari have lost their last two competitive games without finding the back of the net, though they did triumph in their prior two by a cumulative score of 5-3.

The hosts are yet to play a home game this campaign, though they ended 2024-25 poorly at Mestsky Stadion, winning one, drawing one and losing two of their final four outings at the ground when excluding friendlies.

The away side beat Aktobe 1-0 in both legs of their tie, and the matches took place either side of a 2-1 victory against Lech Poznan on July 13 in the Polish Super Cup.

Their two clean sheets in that time were as many as they had achieved in their prior eight competitive fixtures.

Head coach Edward Iordanescu’s side have frequently qualified for European competitions, with the club competing in the Conference League in each of the past two seasons, as well as in the Europa League in 2021-22.

Legionisci’s three victories at the start of this season contrasts with their displays at the end of the previous campaign given they lost two and drew one of their final four fixtures of 2023-24.

Legia Warsaw’s form on the road has been excellent for some time considering they have emerged as winners in both of their away matches this term – scoring three and conceding one – and they also won six of their prior seven games on their travels.

Banik Ostrava form (all competitions):

Legia Warsaw Europa League form:

Legia Warsaw form (all competitions):

Team News

Banik may start a back four consisting of full-backs David Buchta and Patrick Kpozo, as well as centre-backs Matej Chalus and Karel Pojezny.

Midfielders Jiri Boula and Tomas Rigo could appear in midfield behind attackers Michal Kohut, Matej Sin, Ewerton and Erik Prekop.

Opponents Legia Warsaw are likely to name a similar starting lineup to the side that beat Aktobe in the second leg on July 17, with wingers Vahan Bichakhchyan and Ryoya Morishita candidates to support striker Marc Gual.

Defensive midfielder Rafal Augustyniak may be stationed behind number eights Bartosz Kapustka and Juergen Elitim.

Central defenders Radovan Pankov and Steve Kapuadi can be expected to marshal a back four ahead of goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz.

Banik Ostrava possible starting lineup:

Holec; Buchta, Chalus, Pojezny, Kpozo; Boula, Rigo; Kohut, Sin, Ewerton; Prekop

Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:

Tobiasz; Wszolek, Pankov, Kapuadi, Kun; Kapustka, Augustyniak, Elitim; Bichakhchyan, Gual, Morishita

We say: Banik Ostrava 0-3 Legia Warsaw

Legia Warsaw have been in excellent form away from home, and they should be expected to win on Thursday.

Banik will also be facing a stubborn defence, and given their lack of European pedigree, they are unlikely to avoid defeat.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Lewis Nolan

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