Górnik lost 1-3 to Lech Poznań in the Supercup on 23 July and 0-1 to Fenerbahçe in Champions League qualifying on 21 July, and midfielder Jarosław Kubicki fractured his arm during the Supercup.
Key departures include Patrik Hellebrand (Korona Kielce), Lukas Ambros (Anderlecht, record fee) and retiring owner Lukas Podolski. Arrivals: Erik Prekop (€1m), Bruno Durdov (€900k), Ondrej Zmrzly (€500k), plus Urbański and Federico on frees.
Śląsk won four and drew one of five friendlies under coach Ante Simundža, returning to the Ekstraklasa after a one-year absence and second-place I liga finish.
Górnik Zabrze and Śląsk Wrocław meet in the first round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa at Stadion im. Ernesta Pohla in Zabrze. Kick-off is set for 17:30 on Saturday, 25 July 2026 (some outlets quoting 17:35).
Górnik enter the domestic season nursing two defeats. Last Tuesday they lost 0-1 away to Fenerbahçe in the Champions League second qualifying round, and on Thursday they were beaten 1-3 by Lech Poznań in the Polish Supercup. The team also lost midfielder Jarosław Kubicki to a broken arm in Poznań; he will be out for several weeks.
“We lost important players, but we have Erik Prekop, a striker who knows how to make a difference. I believe we will strengthen further.”
The squad has undergone a significant rebuild. Two Czech midfielders departed: Patrik Hellebrand joined Korona Kielce and Lukas Ambros moved to Anderlecht for a club-record fee. Lukas Podolski retired in May and became majority owner of the club. Summer signings include Erik Prekop (€1m), Bruno Durdov (€900k), Ondrej Zmrzly (€500k), plus free transfers Kacper Urbański (Legia Warsaw) and Peter Federico (Getafe).
Śląsk Wrocław come back to the top flight after one season in the second tier, where they secured promotion by finishing second in the Betclic I liga. Coach Ante Simundža kept his job despite the earlier relegation. Pre-season form was encouraging: five friendlies yielded four wins and one draw, with no defeats.
Recent history favours the hosts. Górnik have won four of the last five meetings, each time keeping a clean sheet.
The match will be broadcast on CANAL+ Sport 3 and streamed on CANAL+ online. Commentary will be provided by Robert Skrzyński and Kamil Kosowski. Additionally, a promotion with STS allows new registrants to access CANAL+ online free for three months by depositing at least 50 zł using code SFPLUS.
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Górnik Zabrze, the league runners-up, start their 2026/27 campaign at home to newly promoted Śląsk Wrocław on Saturday, 25 July, at 17:30 (CET). The match follows a week of disappointing results for the hosts.
AI text based on reports by sportowefakty.wp.pl, www.polsatsport.pl and sport.interia.pl. Published .