Cracovia fell in the first pre‑season friendly before the new campaign, losing 1:2 to Cyprus' Pafos. The match took place on Wednesday, with goals for the visitors scored by Alexandre Brito in the 7th minute and Bruno Biel in the 35th, while Cracovia's sole strike came from Ajdin Hasić in the 47th minute.

What happened in the match?

Pafos dominated possession from the start and pressured Cracovia's defense. Brito capitalized on confusion in the penalty area after a deep throw‑in, and Biel added a second after a well‑executed wing play. Cracovia failed to respond in the first half despite attempts by Śmiglewski and Kameri that produced no result. After the break, Hasić opened the scoring five minutes in, but further attacks, including Mateusz Praszelik's shot from 20 m, did not alter the scoreline. Pafos held on to win.

Why does the result matter for Cracovia?

The loss highlights offensive shortcomings that the coach must address before the Ekstraklasa start. Currently Cracovia sits 13th in the league with 42 points, 9 wins, 15 draws and 10 defeats from 34 games, and their recent form reads DDDDD. They have conceded 42 goals while scoring 39, underscoring the need to tighten the back line and improve finishing. Moreover, the absence of Oscar Wójcik, who is being watched by Werder Bremen, and injured Victor Bogacz limits squad rotation.

What comes next before the new season?

The coaching staff will review the mistakes, especially in finishing and penalty‑area organization. Upcoming weeks feature additional friendlies, and the transfer market may bring reinforcements, particularly in defense, to close the -3 goal difference gap. Cracovia remains 18 points behind leaders Lech Poznań, so every point in the forthcoming fixtures will be vital in the battle to escape the relegation zone.