Lech Poznań crush FC Thun in Europa League qualifier

Lech Poznań moved to the verge of the Europa League with an emphatic 7-0 win over FC Thun, producing what the source described as the club’s biggest victory in European competition.

Lech respond in style after Champions League setback

After a painful exit against Aarhus in the Champions League qualifiers, Lech dropped into the Europa League route and have since gathered momentum. They came through ties against KI Klaksvik with little trouble, winning 1-0 and 5-0, before meeting FC Thun in the final qualifying round.

On paper, the meeting with the Swiss champions looked competitive. Thun had arrived with an eye-catching story of their own, having won the Swiss title as a newly promoted side. But the first leg turned into a one-sided contest once Lech found their rhythm.

Early warning before Lech took control

The visitors threatened first. Following a short corner and a scramble in the area, Mateusz Lis got a touch before Radosław Murawski cleared off the line to preserve parity. It was a significant moment, because Thun soon faded from the game.

Lech’s attacking display began in the 10th minute. A long ball from Lis was contested by Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, and the loose ball broke kindly for Patrik Walemark. The winger won his duel with Michael Heule, drove through and finished past Niklas Steffen.

The second goal came from quick thinking at a free-kick. Mateusz Skrzypczak restarted play sharply, Pablo Rodriguez then supplied Sayyadmanesh, and the forward made no mistake in a one-on-one situation.

Lech were relentless. Five minutes later, Walemark had his second after a move down the left involving Luis Palma and Michał Gurgul, with the final delivery leaving the Swede with a simple finish from close range.

Fluent football and no let-up after the break

The fourth goal was another example of Lech’s sharp set-piece work. A short free-kick led to a move involving Palma, Joel Pereira and Antoni Kozubal, before Skrzypczak struck first time to score his first goal in European competition.

Before the interval, Murawski added another with a low finish from the right side. The goal came while Thun were temporarily a man short, as Furkan Dursun had not yet been introduced for the injured Marc Gutbub.

Lech resumed with the same intensity. Just 124 seconds into the second half, they had a sixth. Hakans cut in from the right and shot, with the ball taking an unfortunate deflection off Jan Bamert that left Steffen helpless.

Thun thought they had pulled one back in the 66th minute when Dursun finished after a move down the left, but the effort was ruled out for offside after a video review.

There was still time for Lech to add another. After an incisive pass from Gurgul split the defence, substitute Robert Gumny ran through and lifted a composed finish over the goalkeeper to complete the scoring.

Europa League place now within touching distance

Lech then managed the game and looked for more, but the damage had already been done. A tie that had been expected to be balanced now looks all but decided, with the Polish side in a commanding position before the return match.

The second leg of the fourth qualifying round between Lech Poznań and FC Thun is scheduled for 27 August. On this evidence, Lech have given themselves far more than a foothold — they have put one foot firmly in the Europa League.

• Lech Poznań beat FC Thun 7-0 in the first leg
• It was Lech’s biggest win in Europe
• FC Thun are the Swiss champions
• The return leg is set for 27 August