Lech v Belenenses background
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Article summary
Lech Poznań have lost only one of their last 15 European home games, but their past record against Portuguese sides gives Group I visitors Belenenses hope.
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Article body
KKS Lech Poznań have an impressive home record, but as they approach their first UEFA Europa League Group I game, they must be mindful of CF Os Belenenses's defensive solidity this season.
Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in Europe, and it is Braga's first encounter with Polish opponents.
• Lech's only previous encounter with a Portuguese side ended in a 2-1 aggregate loss to SC Braga in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League round of 32.
• A draw may be the most likely outcome; the ten previous UEFA games in Poland between clubs from these nations ended W3 D5 L2.
Form guide
• Lech have lost only one of their last 15 European home games (W10 D4 L1), that defeat a 3-1 against Group I rivals FC Basel 1893 in this season's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
• Belenenses have not conceded in their last three European games (W1 D2), including a win and a draw away from home.
• Lech successfully made it to the round of 32 in their only two previous UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns.
• Belenenses are making their UEFA group stage debut; this is set to be the longest campaign in their European history – at least ten games – their longest previous outing being a four-game trip to the 1988/89 UEFA Cup second round.
Trivia and links
• The journey from Lisbon to Poznan is around 2,500km.
• Lech are one of ten domestic champions in this season's group stage, along with KF Skenderbëu (Albania), FK Qarabağ (Azerbaijan), APOEL FC (Cyprus), FC Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic), FC Midtjylland (Denmark), FK Partizan (Serbia), Celtic FC (Scotland), Molde FK (Norway) and Group I rivals FC Basel 1893 (Switzerland).
The coaches
• Maciej Skorża led Lech to the Polish title in his first season in charge in 2014/15, having previously won the crown twice as coach of Wisła Kraków. He was just 32 when he became the first coach to lead a Polish side into the UEFA Cup group stage, his KS Amica Wronki side qualifying for the first edition in 2004/05.
• Ricardo Sá Pinto returned to Portugal to take charge of Belenenses in the summer, following two years abroad with FK Crvena zvezda, OFI Crete and Atromitos FC. He had earlier coached Sporting Clube de Portugal, the side where he made his name. He was a losing UEFA Cup finalist with Sporting in 2005.
