Raków Częstochowa kicked off their new European season with a 3-1 victory over Valletta FC at home. The Medaliki began their UEFA Conference League qualifying campaign with a win that keeps their hopes of progression alive. Dawid Kroczek’s side showed character on Thursday evening despite missing key striker Jonatan Braut Brunes, who recently joined Sparta Prague for €6 million. League standing: 4th in Ekstraklasa, 55 pts, 16W-7D-11L from 34 games, recent form WWLWW.

What happened at Stadion Raków?

The Maltese visitors refused to roll over. Manuel Morello put Valletta ahead in the 23rd minute after a cross from Thaylor Aldamy. Raków pushed hard but Adilson Maringa stood between them and an equaliser. It took until the 53rd minute for Mahir Emreli, the summer signing from Azerbaijan, to level the scores. A 70th-minute penalty shout went Valletta’s way after Patryk Makuch’s handball, but Petar Sekulović blazed over. The hosts then took control in the final stages.

Key moments and debuts

Patryk Makuch fired Raków back in front from the edge of the box in the 78th minute, and Stratos Svarnas headed home a Makuch cross four minutes later to seal the win. Both Emreli and Hungarian midfielder Adin Molnar had early chances they couldn’t convert. Jakub Jendryka and Adam Basse also made their bows, adding to the fresh faces in the squad. Raków’s last outing before the return leg ended in a 2-3 loss to PSV Eindhoven on 11 July 2026.

Why this win matters

A slip against Valletta could have derailed Raków’s European ambitions. Instead, Kroczek’s men proved they can grind out a crucial result even without Brunes. The two-goal cushion means they travel to Malta with a real chance of progression. The team now has a week to prepare for the return leg on 30 July at 19:30.

What’s next for Raków Częstochowa?

Raków’s next league fixture comes this Sunday. The win in Europe marks a promising start to the new campaign. The team has scored 51 goals this season while conceding 40, for an +11 goal difference. They remain in the title hunt, five points adrift of leaders Lech Poznań. Can they keep the momentum going and land another trophy? The answer will take a few more weeks to emerge.