Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Legia welcome Caernarfon to their Stadion Wojska Polskiego in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round, first leg. Legia kicked off the new Ekstraklasa campaign with a 2-0 win over ten-man Zaglebie and they are seen as hot favourites to win Thursday’s clash as well. A man to watch in the home team will be returnee Luquinhas, who produced a brilliant display in the season opener. Both Mustafaev and Burch should miss out with injuries.
The Canaries, on the other hand, eliminated Crusaders on penalties in a round 1 thriller, but they will have a mountain to climb in Warsaw. As David faces Goliath at Stadion Wojska Polskiego, anything but a routine home victory would be a major surprise. Caernarfon midfielder Matthew Jones is a major doubt after missing the Crusaders clash with injury, with Gruff Williams likely to keep his place in the starting XI.
Highlighted Team (Legia):
Legia is a football club based in Warsaw and it is one of the most successful sides in Polish history. The Militarians – as they are commonly referred to in Poland – have won 11 Ekstraklasa Championship title, while they also hold the record-18 Polish Cup trophies and four Polish SuperCup matches.
Founded as the main official football club of the Polish Army, Legia Warsaw are playing theirhome matches at the Polish Army Stadium which can accommodate 31,000 people. Legia have endured mixed fortunes at the international scene with the Polish giants regularly participating in Europa League, with four group inclusions over the last six years. The Militarians headed into the 2016-17 season feeling buoyed and motivated having succeeded in ending the 20-year Champions League wait, becoming the first Polish team to take part in Europe’s elite competition over the last two decades.
The 3-1 aggregate playoff victory over Irish Dundalk earned them a place in the final showpiece with Legia being thrown into a heavy mix with the likes of Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund and European champions Real Madrid.