Hammarby IF vs Raków Częstochowa: UECL Second Leg Preview
Hammarby IF host Raków Częstochowa in the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round second leg on 13 August 2026 at their Tele2 Arena home in Stockholm, with the tie evenly balanced after a 0-0 first leg in Poland.
First Leg Recap
The first leg at Stadion Rakow on 6 August produced a goalless draw, but not without controversy. Patryk Makuch had the ball in the net for Raków midway through the second half, only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul on Hammarby goalkeeper Warner Hahn. The sides were almost indistinguishable statistically — 50% possession each and five shots on goal apiece.
Team News and Expected Formations
In that first leg, Hammarby manager Henrik Rydström fielded a 4-2-3-1, with captain Nahir Besara in the number 10 role behind the striker. Defenders Victor Eriksson and Shaquille Pinas started at centre-back. Raków lined up in a 3-4-3 under Dawid Kroczek, with Makuch leading the attack and Adrian Tudor anchoring the back three. Both managers are likely to stick with similar setups, though late fitness checks could alter the benches.
Home Comforts and European Pedigree
Hammarby dropped into the Conference League after a Europa League qualifying defeat to Anderlecht, but their domestic form at the 33,000-capacity Tele2 Arena has often been strong. Raków arrive with confidence having thrashed Valletta 5-1 on aggregate in the previous round. The Polish side are seasoned European campaigners, while Hammarby will need to harness the Stockholm atmosphere to break down a well-organised defence.
