Wisla Krakow vs. Standard de Liege UEFA Europa League preview
Wisla Krakow will look to end a wait of almost 33 years for a springtime European victory as they take on miserly R. Standard de Liege in the UEFA Europa League round of 32.
The sides have been paired for the first time in UEFA competition.
Wisla’s six games against Belgian clubs ended W1 D2 L3 (W1 D1 L1 at home). Their only previous meeting with opposition from Belgium in the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League came in the 1976/77 second round against FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek when they drew both ties 1-1 before losing 5-4 on penalties.
Standard’s only prior encounter with Polish opponents brought a 2-1 aggregate defeat by Wisla’s traditional rivals Legia Warszawa in the 1970/71 European Champion Clubs’ Cup second round. Standard won 1-0 at home but went down 2-0 in Warsaw.
Wisla have won five of their six European home games this season, a 3-1 defeat against Odense BK in the group stage the only blemish.
Wisla are competing in the round of 32 for the first time since the advent of the UEFA Cup group stage in 2004/05.
The last time Wisla played European football after Christmas was when they lost to S.S. Lazio in the fourth round of the 2002/03 UEFA Cup. They have not won a springtime match in Europe since the quarter-finals of the 1978/79 European Cup, beating Malmo FF 2-1 at home but then losing 4-1 in Sweden.
Standard have gone eight matches unbeaten in this term’s UEFA Europa League with six wins and two draws, including three victories on the road.
Standard are through to the round of 32 for the third time in four seasons. They were eliminated by SC Braga at this stage in 2008/09, but overcame FC Salzburg in 2009/10, eventually progressing to the quarter-finals where they succumbed to Hamburger SV.
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