“Lech is the favorite”

Arka Gdynia will face Lech Poznan in Lotto Ekstraklasa after 7 matches without a win. The last time the team from the seaside won any points was in the 16^th league round against Wisla Cracow.

“We need to remember that even the longest run of poor performances can be put to an end at any moment. Just look at Cracovia’s performance in Warsaw – no one expected the team from Cracow to beat Legia in such circumstances, after years of waiting, and yet they did. Therefore, people shouldn’t get used to seeing clubs perform poorly and expect them to do so. In reality, every league match in Poland is different. After watching Lech in Gliwice, no one could have predicted that Lech would confidently beat Legia, but they did just that,” explained Bernard.

For Nawalka’s players, the clean sheet was equally as important as the win itself, especially since in the previous 2 matches, Lech conceded 6 goals.

“I believe that stability in the defense is crucial. During the winter pre-season, the team from Poznan played every practice match with a different defensive line. This rotation continued in the league as well. The defensive formation requires routine, good communication, habits. You cannot achieve that if you rotate the players every game. Of course, the footballers know each other well from training sessions, but matches are different. I think that the defensive line which competed against Legia is currently the most solid one,” highlighted the journalist.

Therefore, the question is, what does Lech need to win against Arka? “Stability and a change of tactics. The first few winter matches proved that, at least for now, Lech cannot use controlled play and attack slowly from the back. The game in Gliwice is a good example of why it doesn’t work. In the clash with Legia, Lech gave away control of the game to their rival and it ended very well for them. Of course, it won’t be as easy against Arka. The upcoming league match is a home one and Lech is the favorite, therefore they must lead the play. Nonetheless, finding a balance between the two styles of play can come in handy,” summarized the radio journalist.