KuPS vs Lech Poznań – News and Probable Lineups

Having both missed out on a top-eight finish in the Conference League, KuPS and Lech Poznan will face each other in a two-legged playoff, beginning with the first fixture this Thursday at Tammelan stadion, home of the Finnish side.

The home team finished the league stage in 21st place, collecting seven points over six matches, narrowly avoiding elimination based on goal difference. Lech Poznan, on the other hand, concluded their campaign in 11th with 10 points.

Match overview

KuPS should be commended for making it this far in the tournament, considering they hadn’t reached either the league or group stage of a European competition since the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1990-91 season.

The home side displayed solid defensive abilities in their recent encounter in the Conference League, managing a 2-2 draw against FA Cup champions Crystal Palace on December 18, despite facing a one-man disadvantage for the final 17 minutes.

On Valentine’s Day, Miika Nuutinen’s team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ilves in the Finlândia Cup. Although they sit second to last in their group and need to improve to avoid elimination, they previously claimed the 2025 Veikkausliiga title.

Recent form for KuPS has been less than stellar, as they have only secured one victory in their last six matches, a stretch in which they lost three, netted five goals, and conceded eight.

This season, the hosts remained unbeaten in their three away fixtures in the Conference League, drawing twice, and experienced just one defeat in their six league matches.

Lech Poznan concluded the league phase just two points shy of eighth-placed AEK Larnaca, with their inability to finish in the top eight largely attributed to a lackluster start in the Conference League, where they recorded one win and two losses in their opening three matches.

The visitors arrive for Thursday’s showdown following victories of 3-0 and 1-0, and although they faced defeats in their previous two fixtures, those remain their only losses in a total of 11 matches.

Niels Frederiksen’s squad has scored at least twice in four of their last seven games across all competitions, and they achieved two consecutive clean sheets, matching the total from their prior seven matches.

Supporters can expect a tight match as both sides have been successful in finding the net in eight of Lech’s last nine European away fixtures.

Kolejorz has struggled somewhat on the road in the Conference League, having lost two of their three away matches, but their recent form on the road overall is promising, with two draws, three wins, and just one defeat in their last six away games.

Team News

KuPS will be without left-back Antwi Clinton for the first leg due to a suspension following a red card received in the match against Palace, which may allow Taneli Hamalainen the chance to shine.

Valentin Gasc is expected to be included in midfield given Doni Arifi’s departure, while Piotr Parzyszek and Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba could lead the attack.

Midfielder Timothy Noor Ouma of Lech Poznan is on the verge of suspension, necessitating caution from both him and Antoni Kozubal.

Radoslaw Murawski might have been a midfield option, but he is dealing with a leg injury and could be sidelined.

Centre-forwards Mikael Ishak and Luis Palma have netted five and two goals respectively in the Conference League this season, and are anticipated to be in the starting attack.

KuPS probable starting XI:

Kreidl; Armah, Ward, Lotjonen, Hamalainen; Voutilainen, Gasc, Oksanen, Ruoppi; Luyeye-Lutumba, Parzyszek

Lech Poznan probable starting XI:

Mrozek; Pereira, Monka, Skrzypczak, Gurgul; Rodriguez, Ouma, Kozubal, Ismaheel; Isaac, Palma