FC Copenhagen – Rakow

Champions League Qualifiers Play-off Leg 2
Copenhagen, August 30, 21:00 CET

The Danish champion is in an ideal situation, to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League for the second year in a row. With a 1:0 away win over Poland's Rakow last week, FC Copenhagen heralds a celebratory atmosphere in front of their fans in the Qualifiers Play-off round Leg 2, on Wednesday night.
What can be a trump card for guests from Poland, is their freshness. Rakow did not play a domestic league match on the weekend, the team had the opportunity to rest and fully focus on the duel in Copenhagen throughout the week. Overall, Rakow did not play badly on their home field last week, the conceded the only goal of the match to their Danish rivals last in the ninth minute of the game. One got the impression that the Poles played excessively cautiously in front of their fans until the end of the match (advantage in shots 8:5, of which only two on target for both teams). Now, a much more open match is expected.
The fact that Rakow will look for a goal and play more attacking football in Copenhagen is, however, an exceptional opportunity for the hosts. The Danish champions are known as a team that perfectly punish the opponent on the counter. The attacking trio of Larrson - Bardghji - Elyounoussi (former Southampton player) are the most dangerous in matches where the opponent is not only waiting for counterattack chances. In such a situation, Rakow could even experience a convincing defeat.
During the weekend, FC Copenhagen had an unexpected home defeat against Silkeborg 3:1 in the Danish Superliga. After five convincing victories and exceptional editions, a defeat has arrived due to which the champions now have to share the first place in the standings. However, it is clear that placing in the Champions League is primarily in the minds of the entire team, already in the long term. Also, in that game agains Silkeborg, mental fatigue was noticeable for FC Copenhagen players, after a long series of weeks in which the team from Danish capital played two matches.
Coach Jacub Neestrup, however, absolutely believes in the long-term set game system in the 4-3-3 formation, which has been bringing great results and a large number of goals for months. Rakow will certainly play in a slightly more defensive variant of the 3-4-3 formation, but from the start this team will be ready to press. Especially Piasecki, Kochergin and Cebula in attack.
Even if they hadn't won the first game, FC Copenhagen would have been clear favorites to advance to the Champions League Group stage. This team has great experience of playing such matches, but also an obvious advantage in the quality of individuals. Thus, it is expected that the young wing forwards of the Danish team will be too fast and a big problem for the defenders of the Polish champion - Racovitan, Kovacevic and Rundic.
In such a situation, where the guests have to attack more than they would like, a match with at least three goals is expected, and even more likely with at least two goals from the hosts. FC Copenhagen players are aware of the importance of the match, that this is one of the most important games of the season for them. On the other hand, no one will blame the Rakow team if they finish their way to the Champions League in this match. It is about a club that only six years ago played in the third tier of the domestic league. Young coach Dawid Szwarga took over the team only this summer, and Rakow obviously does not seem as well-rounded as they were during the spring. It is realistic to expect that they will be punished on the road in Denmark.