Photo: Legionisci.com
With eight Ekstraklasa games taking place at the same time tonight, the penultimate round of the season will have plenty to say in the race for Europe and the battle against relegation. Ryan Hubbard has a couple of his tips for the upcoming Round 29.
GKS Bełchatów – Jagiellonia Białystok
Whilst this may be a clash between a comfortable mid-table side and serious relegation candidates, the form guide alone would have you feeling a little mixed up about which is which. Despite sitting in eleventh position, the last five weeks have been torrid for Jagiellonia. Five consecutive defeats, shipping fifteen goals without a single one in reply, has left Jaga in turmoil. With boss Tomasz Hajto no longer able to take the club forward, the meeting with GKS will also be his penultimate game in the Yellow-Red dugout.
In contrast, despite occupying fifteenth position (it would be a relegation spot if Polonia hadn’t been denied a license for next season), Bełchatów sit level with Champions Legia Warszawa at the top of the form table with 4 wins and 2 draws in their last six. Under the guideship of Kamil Kiereś, now in his second spell at the club this season, GKS have been rejuvenated. Now a win against Jagiellonia coupled with a Podbeskidzie loss against Pogoń Szczecin would, against all odds, see them safe with a game remaining.
Whilst a glut of goals are unlikely, the form guide suggests only one result – a home victory. Whilst it may not necessarily result in survival just yet, it would be a massive three points for GKS who face European-chasing Piast Gliwice in Sunday’s final round.
GKS to win can be picked up at Unibet with odds of 1.60.
Ruch Chorzów – Legia Warszawa
The Championship may be won, but don’t think that Legia will ease off of the pedal for their trip to the notoriously pro-Silesian hotbed of Chorzów. Always a fiery affair when the two sides meet, the game has added significance for the home side as a loss could see them dragged back into the relegation battle should Podbeskidzie win their game.
With the pressure on for the Niebiescy to secure their safety, Legia also have their reasons to want to emerge from Silesia with a victory. Captain Michał Żewłakow hangs up his boots at the end of the season, and has called upon his team-mates to send him off in style.
“This will be the last away game of my career and I want to win” Żewłakow told Legia.com. “So if you like me even a little bit, then you will win”.
The form guide also suggests the Ruch are feeling the pressure. Unable to pick up a win in their last five outings, they even threw away a 4-2 lead at Lechia Gdańsk in the dying minutes, eventually drawing 4-4. Their opponents however powered their way to their tenth league title by going unbeaten in their last twelve league games – a run dating back to the opening day of spring.
Whilst the 2012/13 season may be over for Legia, the early start of the 2013/14 season means that even the fringe players will be hoping to impress Jan Urban ahead of their assault on the Champions League. With just over six weeks until the big kick-off, there will be no time to let up for the Wojskowi.
A Legia victory can be picked up at Unibet at odds of 2.10.
Full Round 29 Fixtures. All Kick-offs 18:00 CET (17:00 UK)
GKS Bełchatów – Jagiellonia Białystok
Górnik Zabrze – Wisła Kraków
Korona Kielce – Widzew Łódź
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała – Pogoń Szczecin
Polonia Warszawa – Piast Gliwice
Ruch Chorzów – Legia Warszawa
Śląsk Wrocław – Lech Poznań
Zagłębie Lubin – Lechia Gdańsk
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