- Team form: Cracovia have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 5 matches.
- Opponents form: Rakow have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 games.
Cracovia and Rakow look to be evenly matched
Match context
MKS Cracovia Krakow (2.75) appear overpriced for Sunday's Ekstraklasa 2026-2027 encounter with Rakow Czestochowa at Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Stadium, given that the home side are winless in the new season and the visitors have had a poorer start to the campaign. There isn't a great deal to separate the sides overall, with Rakow winning two, Cracovia two and one draw in their past five meetings, but the hosts will have fond memories of their 1-4 home loss to Rakow three months ago.
Tactics and standings
Bartosz Grzelak has done a pretty good job since taking the helm in April 2026 and Cracovia are a much more solid and compact team since he adopted a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 system with a clear defensive structure.
Cracovia come into the game in 14th spot in the Ekstraklasa 2026/2027 with 2 points from their first 3 games, while Rakow are 17th and on zero points from 2.
High-press Rakow up against a compact host
Style of play
Rakow's overall style remains similar to that which Dawid Kroczek implemented when he first took charge, with his side still looking to press high up the field and strangle opponents with their high-intensity system. Krakow will offer them the ideal test of that approach as they are more compact and don't have the same quality in the final third as many other sides.
Recent form and betting
Backing Under 2.5 goals at 1.7 seems to fit the feel of this game as both teams have been involved in low-scoring affairs, while Both Teams To Score – No at 1.91 is also an attractive pick for a cagey affair.
Cracovia are 2.75 ahead of Rakow at 2.46 and the draw at 3.3, so they clearly have the market's confidence despite being winless at home.
- Cracovia's last two results don't give much encouragement to the home team's fans as they went down 2-0 at home to Pogon Szczecin and had to dig deep for a 0-0 away draw against Slask Wroclaw.
- Rakow have also had mixed results – a 2-1 away loss to Slask Wroclaw and a 0-0 home draw with Hammarby IF in UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 – which shows they are a work in progress and are still a bit short on the finishing touch.
Savvy selection is Patryk Makuch
Patryk Makuch looks a savvy selection in the anytime scorer market as he has netted 3 of Rakow's last 9 goals in their previous 5 games. Jean Carlos has supplied 1 assist in 2 appearances in the 2026/2027 season and looks capable of providing the killer touch in the Rakow forward line.
This game looks like a tight tactical battle rather than a shootout, so the visitors will have to work hard to break down Cracovia's compact structure, which is more than capable of soaking up pressure. Mahir Emreli is Rakow's leading scorer in the Ekstraklasa 2026/2027 with 1 goal in 2 games for Rakow, giving them a sharp shooter in the front line to get it done if they can carve out a chance.
