Lech Poznan vs Djurgarden prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-03-08 20:00.
History and national pride will both be on the line when Poland’s Lech Poznań and Sweden’s Djurgårdens IF go head-to-head as the last remaining clubs from their respective nations in any 2022/23 UEFA competition. By the conclusion of this two-legged UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) Round of 16 tie, one of these sides will be further into the springtime knockouts than ever before!
Lech will approach this game on a high after thrashing rivals Lechia Gdańsk 5-0 at the weekend to remain in a position to return to the UECL next season. One of the most pleasing aspects of that result for manager John van den Brom, other than adding another clean sheet to the two they earned against Norway’s Bodø/Glimt in their inaugural UEFA springtime tie victory, was that “the result was comfortable enough” that they were able to make second-half substitutions with this fixture in mind.
Still in their off-season until April, DjurgĂĄrdens sharpened up for this fixture with three Swedish Cup victories against second-tier clubs, though it must have been of concern that they were not able to keep their opponents scoreless on any occasion. Whilst they have technically reached the quarter-finals of a UEFA tournament previously – ironically defeating a Polish club (the defunct Gwardia Warsaw) to get there – it was in the 16-team knockout 1955/56 European Cup.
But the Swedish club have already broken new ground this season as the only remaining European group stage debutants of this UECL, and have also secured consecutive European away wins for the first time in a single season (as part of an outstanding W4, D1, L1 continental away record). If they can replicate the kind of efficiency that saw them score three goals from three shots away to Molde in the group stage, they could continue to make history.
Players to watch: Lech’s Swedish striker Mikael Ishak returned from suspension at the weekend to score in consecutive competitive starts after delivering the match winner at home to Bodø/Glimt. Look for Gustav Wikheim to make an early impact after he opened the scoring within 15 minutes in two of Djurgårdens’ recent cup wins.
Hot stat: Lech have conceded goals in just two of their eight European home games this season (W7, D1).