Raków Częstochowa vs Valletta preview

Europe flag 2026/2027 Europa Conference League, Europe
Stadion Raków Thu, 23 Jul - 4:30 PM
Europa Conference League
Raków CzęstochowaRAK
3 1
VallettaVAL
Full Time Thu, 23 Jul 4:30 PM
2nd Qualifying Round Leg 1 of 2
Mahir Emreli - 53'
Goal
|
Goal

CONTEXT

Rakow Czestochowa faced Valletta in the first leg of their two-legged knockout tie. Valletta led 0-1 at halftime after scoring in the opening period. Rakow Czestochowa responded strongly after the break and secured a 3-1 victory with three second-half goals. The home side controlled 68 percent of possession while limiting the visitors to 32 percent. No red cards were issued to either team during the contest. Although Valletta entered as the stronger side on paper, Rakow Czestochowa delivered the winning performance on the night. The result reflected a significant performance deviation by the eventual winners.

TL;DR

  • Structural deviation: Rakow Czestochowa recorded a significant 16.7 percent deviation as the match winner.
  • Efficiency shift: Efficiency shift remained in line with pre-match patterns for both sides.
  • xG alignment: Expected goals data was unavailable so alignment could not be measured.
  • Market alignment: Final outcome stayed aligned with available market indicators.
  • xG expectations: Expected goals projections were not provided in the match data.
  • Event impact: Second-half adjustments produced three goals after the 0-1 halftime score.
  • Red card distortion: Zero red cards occurred so no distortion affected match dynamics.
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
K. Sağlam
K. Sağlam
Referee • 25 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 30.4
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 4
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0.36
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0.36
League Avg 0
A. Usta
A. Usta
1st Assistant • 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
M. Mazlum
M. Mazlum
2nd Assistant • 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
?. Turtay
?. Turtay
4th Official • 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Raków Częstochowa D. Kroczek
D. Kroczek
VS
Valletta T. Micallef
T. Micallef
0
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
0
0 i
Last 6 Opponents
Fiorentina Rank: 80 L
Fiorentina Rank: 80 L
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
0 i
0
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
0 - 0 - 0
0

Win Probabilities

Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Home Raków Częstochowa
83.3%
Draw
11.8%
Away Valletta
4.9%

Movement

Changes since opening
Raków Częstochowa
-10.7%
Draw
+6.75%
Valletta
+3.95%

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power score: composite of opponent-weighted form (last 6 & 20 games) and league position over last 3 seasons.
30.95
50
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Raków Częstochowa
Valletta
Power Score
30.95
50
League Position
-
-
Global Rank
-
-

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Raków Częstochowa — Opponent-weighted form score
Valletta — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Raków Częstochowa Valletta

Heatmaps Ball coordinates

Attack and defence zones from ball position data. Filters: last 6 matches (overall/home/away), time period, competition.

–
vs

Raków Częstochowa

Left / Center / Right —
Opposition half density —
vs season average —

Valletta

Left / Center / Right —
Opposition half density —
vs season average —

Possession Efficiency Possession-Adjusted

How effectively each team uses and defends their share of possession. Efficiency adjusted based on team possession percentage

Raków Częstochowa ⚠ Proxy
vs
⚠ Proxy Valletta
Attacking Efficiency
Higher is better
Attacking Efficiency
33.31
23.13
Defensive Efficiency
Lower is better
Defensive Efficiency
23.13
33.31
Combined Efficiency Index Z-score combining attacking and defensive possession-adjusted efficiency.
Positive = above league average.
Negative = below league average.
Formula: EfficiencyIndex = z(AttackEff) − z(DefenceEff)
-3 0 3
Raków Częstochowa +0.98 Efficiency Index
vs
Valletta -0.98 Efficiency Index
xG data unavailable for both teams. Values estimated using shots and dangerous attacks (proxy). Confidence: Medium.
Raków Częstochowa
Valletta
AttackEff = xG ÷ pos
DefenceEff = xGA ÷ (1−pos)

Set Pieces Efficiency Attack & Defence

Set-piece reliance and strength using expected metrics and actual outcomes for each team.

Raków Częstochowa ⚠ Proxy
vs
⚠ Proxy Valletta
Created Set-piece attacking threat
Raków Częstochowa Valletta
Set-piece xG Share Share of total expected goals generated from set pieces. Higher = more set-piece reliant in attack.
—
—
Goals per Match Average set-piece goals scored per match.
0.00 0.00
vs Expected (xG) Goals scored minus set-piece xG. Positive = overperforming; Negative = underperforming expectations.
— vs —
Conceded Set-piece defensive exposure
Raków Częstochowa Valletta
Set-piece xGA Share Share of total expected goals conceded from set pieces. Higher = more exposed to set pieces defensively.
—
—
Conceded per Match Average set-piece goals conceded per match.
0.00 0.00
vs Expected (xGA) Goals conceded minus set-piece xGA. Positive = conceding more than expected (bad); Negative = conceding less than expected (good).
— vs —
xG set-piece data unavailable for both teams. Values estimated using proxy metrics (shots, dangerous attacks). Confidence: Medium.
Raków Częstochowa
Valletta
xG Share = set-piece xG ÷ total xG
vs Expected = goals − set-piece xG

Counter / Transition Attack & Defence

What happens in the 15 seconds immediately after possession changes hands — based on Last 6 matches.

–
Raków Częstochowa
vs
Valletta
Attack After Winning Possession transition → offence
Raków Częstochowa Valletta
Goals per Match Average goals scored within 15s of winning the ball per match. ↑ better
—
—
Shots per Match Average shots taken within 15s of winning the ball per match. ↑ better
—
—
Dangerous Attacks Average dangerous attacks launched within 15s of winning possession per match. ↑ better
—
—
Transition Efficiency Index Composite score (0–1) of how efficiently this team attacks within 15s of winning the ball. Higher = more dangerous on transition. Higher = stronger on the counter
Raków Częstochowa 0.26
Valletta 0.21
Defence After Losing Possession loss → defensive exposure
Raków Częstochowa Valletta
Goals Conceded Average goals conceded within 15s of losing the ball per match. ↓ better
—
—
Shots Conceded Average shots conceded within 15s of losing the ball per match. ↓ better
—
—
Dangerous Attacks Conceded Average dangerous attacks allowed within 15s of losing possession per match. ↓ better
—
—
Vulnerability Index Composite score (0–1) of how exposed this team is within 15s of losing the ball. Lower = better at preventing transition attacks. Lower = better transition defence
Raków Częstochowa 0.04
Valletta 0.04
Raków Częstochowa
Valletta
Window = 15s post-possession change
Index = 0–1 composite score

PRESSURE INDEX

Momentum phases from smoothed minute-by-minute pressure.

  • RAK had peak pressure around 6'.
  • RAK started the game with stronger pressure.
RAK Pressure VAL Pressure
⚡
Pressure Index: RAK reached the top pressure at 6' (63.38).

STARTING XI

Match Formation 3-4-3
Match Formation 4-3-3
Pitch

General Information

Date & Time
Jul 23, 2026, 04:30 PM
Competition
2026/2027 Europa Conference League, Europe · 2nd Qualifying Round · Leg 1 of 2
Stadium
Stadion Raków
Capacity
11600
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Kadir Sağlam
Anıl Usta
Mehmet Salih Mazlum
Ömer Faruk Turtay

Statistics

Possession
RAK
62%
VAL
38%

Top Statistics

3 Goals 1
9 Shots 4
73 Dangerous attacks 28
68 Possession 32
5 Corners 3
13 Free kicks 15
1 Yellow Cards 1

Match Overview

88 Ball Safe 80
0 Penalties 1
14 Goal Attempts 4
4 Substitutions 5
22 Throwins 14
0 Injuries 4

Attacking

129 Attacks 77

Discipline

1 Offsides 0
15 Fouls 15

Lineup

Referee : Kadir Sağlam

Starting XI ▼

1
Kacper Trelowski
Kacper Trelowski Goalkeeper
6.12
4
Stratos Svarnas
Stratos Svarnas Defender
6.45
7
Fran Tudor
Fran Tudor (C) Defender
6.26
25
Bogdan Racovițan
Bogdan Racovițan Defender
6.26
6
Oskar Repka
Oskar Repka Midfielder
6.37
10
Vladyslav Kochergin
Vladyslav Kochergin Midfielder
6.37
19
Michael Ameyaw
Michael Ameyaw Midfielder
6.37
26
Erick Otieno
Erick Otieno
Midfielder72'
6.5
20
Jean Carlos Silva
Jean Carlos Silva Midfielder
6.37
17
Jakub Jendryka
Jakub Jendryka
Midfielder82'
6.5
88
Ádin Molnár
Ádin Molnár Midfielder
6.37
21
Tomasz Pienko
Tomasz Pienko
Midfielder46'
6.95
9
Patryk Makuch
Patryk Makuch Attacker
7.19
11
Mahir Emreli
Mahir Emreli Attacker
6.82
99
Adam Basse
Adam Basse
Attacker82'
6.5
Referee : Kadir Sağlam

Starting XI ▼

90
Adilson Maringá
Adilson Maringá Goalkeeper
5.68
3
Matthias Ellul
Matthias Ellul Defender
5.88
33
Emmanuel Mbende
Emmanuel Mbende Defender
5.88
55
Sava Radic
Sava Radic Defender
5.88
94
Manuel Morello
Manuel Morello Defender
6.24
4
Ermin Bicakcic
Ermin Bicakcic
Defender80'
6.26
10
Brandon Paiber
Brandon Paiber (C) Midfielder
6.37
23
Petar Sekulovic
Petar Sekulovic
Midfielder60'
6.06
11
Jake Azzopardi
Jake Azzopardi Midfielder
6.18
8
Andrea Zammit
Andrea Zammit Attacker
6.46
21
Roko Prsa
Roko Prsa
Midfielder60'
6.23
19
Diogo Tavares
Diogo Tavares Attacker
6.38
32
Alex Tanque
Alex Tanque Attacker
6.46
80
Keyon Ewurum
Keyon Ewurum
Midfielder69'
6.27
77
Thaylor
Thaylor Attacker
6.51
9
Bruno Gomes
Bruno Gomes
Attacker80'
6.46

Events

2ND-HALF
Event
Stratos Svarnas
Field Goal / 4th Goal
90'
Event
Tomasz Pienko
Foul / 2nd Yellowcard
84'
Event
Adam Basse → Mahir Emreli
8th Substitution
82'
Event
Jakub Jendryka → Jean Carlos Silva
9th Substitution
82'
80'
Event
Ermin Bicakcic → Manuel Morello
6th Substitution
80'
Event
Bruno Gomes → Thaylor
7th Substitution
Event
Patryk Makuch
Field Goal / 3rd Goal
78'
74'
Event
Roko Prsa
Foul / 1st Yellowcard
73'
Event
Petar Sekulovic
Off target
Event
Erick Otieno → Michael Ameyaw
5th Substitution
72'
69'
Event
Keyon Ewurum → Alex Tanque
4th Substitution
60'
Event
Roko Prsa → Andrea Zammit
2nd Substitution
60'
Event
Petar Sekulovic → Brandon Paiber 
3rd Substitution
Event
Mahir Emreli
Field Goal / 2nd Goal
53'
Event
Tomasz Pienko → Ádin Molnár
1st Substitution
46'
1ST-HALF
23'
Event
Manuel Morello
Field Goal / 1st Goal

Match Commentary

90
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! The score is now 3-1.
88
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
84
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card.
82
Update Update
Jakub Jendryka comes on for Jean Carlos Silva Rocha.
82
Substitution Substitution
Adam Basse is substituted for Mahir Madatov.
80
Substitution Substitution
Ermin Bicakcic is substituted on for Manuel Morello.
80
Update Update
Bruno Gomes de Oliveira Conceicao comes on for Brian Thaylor.
78
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! Patryk Makuch scores, making it 2-1.
74
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued.
73
Attempt Attempt
Penalty saved! Petar Sekulovic misses the shot.
72
Substitution Substitution
Erick Ouma Otieno is substituted for Michael Ameyaw.
71
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
69
Update Update
Keyon Ewurum is on, and Alex de Aguiar Gomes is off.
68
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
60
Update Update
Petar Sekulovic comes on for Brandon Diego Paiber.
60
Update Update
Roko Prsa is on, and Andrea Zammit is off.
53
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! The score is now 1-1.
46
Update Update
Tomasz Pienko comes on for Adin Molnar.
45
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
31
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
25
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
23
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! The score is now 0-1.
18
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
3
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
1
Update Update
Kick-off! The referee is Kadir Saglam.

CONCLUSION

Rakow Czestochowa overturned an early deficit to claim a 3-1 win in leg one against Valletta. Their second-half response and strong possession edge proved decisive in the knockout setting. Valletta had led at the interval yet could not maintain the advantage once Rakow increased pressure. The absence of red cards allowed both teams to keep full squads on the pitch throughout. With the aggregate now favoring the home side, the return leg will require Valletta to chase the result. Rakow Czestochowa will look to protect their lead while maintaining the same level of control shown after halftime.