The Poles will go all-in, but the visitors' experience could be decisive: prediction for Górnik Zabrze vs Ferencváros
The second leg of the Europa League third qualifying round between Górnik Zabrze and Ferencváros is set for August 13, 2026, at the Arena Zabrze in Zabrze. The Hungarian side claimed a 1-0 victory in Budapest in the first match, meaning the hosts must overturn a narrow deficit if they are to keep their dream of returning to European group stages alive after more than three decades away.
Górnik Zabrze: a home chance for a historic comeback
Górnik put in a respectable performance in the first leg despite the defeat. The Poles trailed 10-15 in shots, but actually registered more touches in the opposition box - 19 to 18 - highlighting that their main shortcoming was converting their opportunities.
In six official matches this season under Michal Gašparík, the team has suffered three defeats, but heads into the return leg on a high after beating Radomiak 3-1. Jarosław Kubicki is still sidelined with a broken arm, while the main attacking threat so far has been Peter González, as Sondre Liseth has yet to find the net this campaign.
Ferencváros: narrow advantage, but far from top form
Ferencváros comes into this clash with just one win from their last four competitive matches, and that victory came a week ago against Górnik. Still, the Hungarian side has shown they can score on the road, netting twice against both Vojvodina and Twente, though they conceded in both outings.
The visitors are also dealing with personnel issues. Elton Acolatse is unavailable, while Endre Botka, Gergő Szechi, Habib Maïga, Franko Kovačević, Bence Oltvös, Barnabás Nagy, Isaac Pappoe, and Ádám Madarász are all ineligible. Zombor Gruber remains in the squad but hasn't featured in Europe since mid-July.
Match facts and head-to-heads
- The first leg ended with a 1-0 win for Ferencváros.
- Górnik have lost three of their six official matches this season.
- Ferencváros have scored twice in three away games this season, but have not kept a single clean sheet on the road.
Home pressure may not be enough: prediction for Górnik Zabrze vs Ferencváros
Górnik will have to come out aggressively and look for an early goal, and the first leg showed the Poles can cause trouble in the opposition box. However, inconsistent results and a lack of cutting edge up front make their task all the more difficult.
For Ferencváros, the key will be to withstand the early pressure and avoid letting the hosts level the aggregate score quickly. The Hungarian side boasts more European experience, and their slender advantage should be enough to see them through - even if they don't secure a win in Zabrze.
