Preview:Legia Warsaw vs Banik Ostrava - prediction, team news, lineups

Legia Warsaw’s second-leg clash against visitors Banik Ostrava at Stadion Wojska Polskiego in the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday is on a knife-edge following their draw in the first leg.

The tie’s winner will advance into the third round of qualifying – the third of five rounds – but the first leg was far from decisive given Thursday’s hosts drew 2-2 with the visitors on July 24, with Banik twice taking the lead in that match.

Match preview

Legia Warsaw demonstrated their resilience to overcome a deficit on two occasions in the first leg, and it was just the second time in their five outings this term that they failed to keep a clean sheet.

Manager Edward Iordanescu’s side were triumphant on Sunday, winning 2-0 against Korona Kielce in the Ekstraklasa, and they ended the weekend in sixth place with three points from three but have played a game less than 16 of their 17 top-flight rivals.

Legionisci have qualified for European football in both of their past two seasons, though they were eliminated from the qualifying rounds in each of their prior four attempts.

Legia’s win last time out means their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 has continued – four victories and one draw – and they have scored at least two goals in a match three times.

The hosts' only home game this campaign came against Aktobe in the previous Europa League round on July 10, a game that they won 1-0, but they did draw two and lose three of their six final outings at Stadion Wojska Polskiego.

Thursday’s visitors will be concerned by their defensive display in the first leg considering they have proven vulnerable at the back, with the club conceding nine times in their past five competitive fixtures, failing to keep a clean sheet.

At the other end of the pitch, Banik’s two goals against Legia Warsaw were their first of the 2025-26 season having lost 1-0 against Bohemians on July 19 in their opening league match of the Czech top flight.

Should boss Pavel Hapal successfully guide his side into the third round of qualifying, he will have taken the club the joint furthest they have ever reached in a continental tournament.

Chachari have been held to stalemates in two of their three most recent competitive games, suffering defeat once.

Banik lost 1-0 against Bohemians in their only away outing this season, but they did win six of their previous seven away matches.

Legia Warsaw Europa League form:

Legia Warsaw form (all competitions):

Banik Ostrava Europa League form:

Banik Ostrava form (all competitions):

Team News

Kacper Tobiasz featured between the posts for Legia in the first leg, and he will be expected to sweep behind centre-backs Jan Ziolkowski and Steve Kapuadi.

The defensive pair could be stationed behind a midfield trio consisting of Bartosz Kapustka, Rafal Augustyniak and Juergen Elitim.

Given the hosts have been strong in front of goal, Kacper Chodyna, Ilia Shkurin and Ryoya Morishita can be considered as the most likely three to feature in attack.

Meanwhile, Banik utilised a back three in the first leg, and if they use a similar system on Thursday, perhaps Michal Frydrych, Matej Chalus and Karel Pojezny will play against Legia.

Attackers Matej Sin, Filip Kubala and Erik Prekop may be supported by a double pivot of Jiri Boula and Tomas Rigo.

Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:

Tobiasz; Wszolek, Ziolkowski, Kapuadi, Vinagre; Kapustka, Augustyniak, Elitim; Chodyna, Shkurin, Morishita

Banik Ostrava possible starting lineup:

Holec; Frydrych, Chalus, Pojezny; Buchta, Boula, Rigo, Holzer; Sin, Kubala; Prekop