Raków Częstochowa Dominates Piast Gliwice in Convincing Away Victory

PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa – 17 May 2026
Raków Częstochowa delivered a commanding performance at Stadion Miejski im. Piotra Wieczorka, defeating Piast Gliwice 3-1 to strengthen their push for European qualification. The visitors controlled proceedings from the first whistle, leaving the home side with little response despite a late consolation goal.

Match Overview

From the opening minutes, Raków displayed the tactical discipline and attacking flair that have made them one of the league’s most consistent sides. Piast struggled to break through Raków’s compact defensive structure, while the visitors’ quick transitions caused constant problems. The final scoreline of 3-1 fairly reflected Raków’s superiority, though Piast showed fight in the closing stages.

Key Moments

• 14' – Raków strike first: A swift counter-attack caught Piast out of shape. Winger Michał Skóraś raced onto a through ball and slotted calmly past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
• 33' – Raków double the lead: A set-piece routine saw defender Milan Rundić head home from a corner, leaving the Piast defence flat-footed.
• 58' – Raków seal the win: A brilliant individual effort from Ivi cut inside from the left and curled a shot into the far corner, extending the lead to 3-0.
• 81' – Piast pull one back: Substitute Damian Kądzior fired a low drive from the edge of the box, giving the home fans a brief moment of hope.

Tactical Story

Raków head coach Dawid Szwarga set his team up in a fluid 4-3-3 that shifted into a 4-1-4-1 when out of possession, pressing high and forcing Piast into errors. Piast’s 4-2-3-1 formation struggled to find rhythm, particularly in midfield, where Ben Lederman and Gustav Berggren were overrun by Raków’s trio of Jean Carlos, Marcin Cebula, and Patryk Kun. The visitors’ ability to switch play quickly and exploit space behind Piast’s full-backs was decisive.

Standout Players

• Ivi (Raków): The Brazilian midfielder was a constant menace, scoring one and assisting another. His dribbling and vision unlocked the defence repeatedly.
• Michał Skóraś (Raków): His pace and direct running caused havoc on the counter, earning him the opening goal and an assist for the second.
• Jakub Czerwiński (Piast): The centre-back made several crucial interceptions but could not prevent the onslaught. His leadership kept Piast from conceding more.

Table and Season Impact

With this victory, Raków Częstochowa moved into the top four of the Ekstraklasa standings, now just three points behind league leaders Legia Warsaw with five matches remaining. The win also bolstered their goal difference, a key factor in what is shaping up to be a tight race for UEFA Conference League spots. For Piast Gliwice, the defeat saw them drop to ninth place, now six points adrift of the top half. Their playoff ambitions took a significant hit, and they will need to regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the table.

Fans of Raków will be encouraged by this clinical display away from home, while Piast must address defensive frailties that have now seen them concede at least twice in three of their last four matches. The Ekstraklasa title fight and European battle remain wide open, and results like this could prove pivotal come the season’s end.