The first leg of the 2025/26 Conference League play-off tie between Kuopion Palloseura (Finland) and Lech Poznan (Poland) will take place on 19 February at the Tammela Stadium in Tampere. Kuopion Palloseura vs Lech Poznan: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Kuopion Palloseura
The Finns managed to qualify for the next stage of the Conference League despite recording just one win in the league phase, a victory over Slovan Bratislava (3:1). The team also suffered only one defeat, away to Jagiellonia (0:1). The other four matches ended in draws, and thanks to a positive goal difference, Kuopion Palloseura eventually finished 21st, ahead of five other teams who also collected 7 points. Interestingly, the Finns have never previously played in the knockout rounds of the main phase of European competition.
- The club have won just 1 of their last 8 Conference League matches (4 draws and 3 defeats).
- No more than two goals have been scored in 6 of Kuopion Palloseura's previous 8 matches in this tournament.
- At least one of the teams failed to score in 7 of the Finns' last 10 matches in this European competition.
Potential Kuopion Palloseura Lineup (4-4-2)*
Johannes Kreidl – Bob Armah, Arttu Lotti, Akseli Puukko, Taneli Hamalainen – Petteri Pennanen, Valentin Gasc, Niilo Kujasalo, Otto Ruoppi – Gustav Engvall, Jocelyn Luyeye-Lutumba.
Due to suspension, Clinton Antwi will miss out.
Lech Poznan
The Poles come into this match on a three-game unbeaten run in the Conference League, recording two wins and one draw in that spell. Thanks to that strong stretch, the club finished 11th in the league-phase standings. The team also scored 12 goals, with only AEK Athens and Rayo Vallecano finding the net more often in the league phase. Interestingly, in the 21st century Lech Poznan have reached the play-offs for only the second time. The previous occasion also came in the Conference League, when the club made it as far as the quarter-finals in the 2022/23 season.
- The team have avoided defeat in 8 of their last 11 matches in this tournament (7 wins and 1 draw).
- Both teams to score landed in 11 of Lech Poznan's last 12 Conference League matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in 11 of the Poles' previous 13 matches in this European competition.
Potential Lech Poznan Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Bartosz Mrozek – Joel Pereira, Alex Douglas, Antonio Milic, Michal Gurgul – Radoslaw Murawski, Antoni Kozubal – Ali Gholizadeh, Patrik Wallemark, Daniel Hakans – Mikael Ishak.
Referee
Aliyar Agayev (Azerbaijan)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 27;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 17%.
Kuopion Palloseura vs Lech Poznan: Match Prediction
The Poles are favourites in this two-legged tie. At the same time, they certainly will not have an easy ride in the first match. The Finns have weak numbers even in the Conference League, yet they rarely lose heavily to their opponents. In the last 12 matches played in this European competition, Kuopion Palloseura have suffered only 4 defeats, and all of them were by a one-goal margin.
Moreover, on home soil the Finns have avoided defeat in 5 of their last 6 Conference League matches, and the only loss was by the narrowest margin. In their previous 9 matches in this tournament, Lech Poznan have recorded just two wins by a margin of more than one goal. Meanwhile, away from home the Poles have played as many as 14 games in this tournament and have won only 4 of them, with just one victory coming by a convincing margin.
Prediction: Kuopion Palloseura (+1)
* For each team, the starting line-up from their last match is listed.