In the 1st round of the Polish Cup, Legia Warszawa, which is the most successful team with 21 triumphs, Pogoń Szczecin, Widzew Łódź, KGHM Zagłębie Lubin and all Krakow teams, i.e. Wisła, Wieczysta and Cracovia, were eliminated.
In the next round, the following representatives of the top league said goodbye to the competition: GKS Katowice, Motor Lublin, Piast Gliwice, Korona Kielce, Radomiak Radom, Śląsk Wrocław, and - what was the biggest sensation - the Polish champion and leader of the top league, Lech Poznań, which failed to cope with the third league (fourth level) Siarka Tarnobrzeg, losing 0:1.
Siarka, who was doing great, led by coach Sławomir Majak, this time faced a rival from Podkarpacie - first league team Stal Rzeszów.
Apart from Siarka, the representative of the 3rd league is Polonia Środa Wielkopolska, which will host second-league Sokół Kleczew.
The most interesting rivalry between Polonia Warsaw and Raków Częstochowa, last year's finalist and winner in 2021-22, promises to be the most interesting. "Czarne Koszule" eliminated Korona Kielce, a strong squad, in the round of 16, winning on Thursday after a good game 2-1. However, the Częstochowa team, whose manager Dawid Szwarga is the fourth coach this season, defeated Motor Lublin away in a penalty shootout.
With our determination and commitment, we have shown that this team has character and is developing. Anyone who wasn't at the match should regret it, said Polonia coach Piotr Stokowiec after the win against Korona.
The 54-year-old coach has already achieved success in the Polish Cup in the past. As the coach of Lechia Gdańsk, he triumphed in 2019, and in the next season he reached the final.
Polish runner-up Górnik Zabrze, defending its trophy, will face away against second-league Avia Świdnik, which reached the quarterfinals last season while still in the third-league.
In turn, Jagiellonia Białystok will play in Nieciecza against first league team Bruk-Bet Termalica. Last season, the "Słoniki" played in the top league and won twice against coach Adrian Siemieniec's team, including 4-0 away.
According to the regulations, the host team is always the team playing in the lower class, and in the case of teams from the same league - the team drawn first.
The drawing ceremony at the TVP headquarters was attended by the secretary general of the Polish Football Association, Łukasz Wachowski, and former national representative Jakub Wawrzyniak.
The 1/8-final matches will take place on December 1-3. The final traditionally takes place on May 2 at the PGE National Stadium.
In the current season, winning the Polish Cup has additional value. Thanks to Poland's high position in the UEFA ranking, the winner will play in the fourth and final qualifying round of the Europa League. This means that it is guaranteed a long autumn in European cups, because if it loses in the LE, it will go to the league (basic) phase of the Conference League.
Pairs of the 1/8 final of the STS Polish Cup football (December 1-3):
Polonia Środa Wielkopolska (3rd league) - Sokół Kleczew (2nd league)
Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza (1st league) - Jagiellonia Białystok (extra league)
Siarka Tarnobrzeg (3rd league) - Stal Rzeszów (1st league)
Polonia Warszawa (1st league) - Raków Częstochowa (extra league)
Avia Świdnik (2nd league) - Górnik Zabrze (extra league)
GKS Tychy (2nd league) - Chrobry Głogów (1st league)
Górnik Łęczna (2nd league) - Wisła Płock (extra league)
Odra Opole (1st league) - Ruch Chorzów (1st league)
Dates of the next rounds:
1/4 finals - March 2-4, 2027
1/2 finals - April 6-7
final - May 2
