Raków Częstochowa beats Valletta 3-1 in Conference League qualifiers
Raków Częstochowa won 3-1 (0-1) against Valletta FC in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Conference League. The return match will take place on July 30 in Malta. Raków, which finished the 2025 season in 4th place in Ekstraklasa with 55 points (16W-7D-11L), showed resilience and turned the game around in the second half.
How did the match unfold?
The first half did not go well for Raków. Valletta led 1-0 after a goal by Manuel Morello. The visitors' goalkeeper, Adilson Maringa, played a crucial role in stopping Raków. In the 53rd minute, Mahir Emreli equalized, and Patryk Makuch scored the decisive goal to make it 2-1. In the final minutes, Stratos Svarnas sealed the victory with a 3-1 goal.
Why is this important for Raków?
This was the first international match for coach Dawid Kroczek. Raków, which has won four of its last five matches (WWWWL), showed that it can handle pressure. The team from Częstochowa now has a chance to advance to the next qualifying round.
What's next?
Raków Częstochowa will face Valletta in the return leg on July 30 in Malta. The team from Częstochowa, which scored 51 goals and conceded 40 last season, has a chance to advance to the next phase of the Conference League.
