GKS Katowice lose 2-1 at MSK Žilina in Conference League qualifier, ending 23-year European absence with defeat

Early breakthrough for GKS

GKS Katowice returned to European competition after a 23-year absence, having finished fifth in the 2025/2026 PKO BP Ekstraklasa. Their Conference League second qualifying round first leg away to MSK Žilina began ideally. In the 6th minute, Bartosz Nowak swung in a corner and Lukas Klemenz rose to head past goalkeeper Jakub Badzgon from close range. The early goal silenced the home crowd and gave the Polish side a platform. Žilina, coached by former Polish league player and manager Pavol Stano, responded quickly. Kristian Bari was denied by goalkeeper Gabriel Kobylak in a one-on-one, and František Kosa tested the keeper from distance. GKS, however, grew passive and invited pressure. Kobylak, a summer signing from Legia Warsaw, was making his debut due to an injury to first-choice Paweł Strączek; Mateusz Kowalczyk and Paweł Rasak were also sidelined.

Penalty levels the tie

The equaliser came in the 29th minute. A scramble in the Katowice penalty area ended with Alan Czerwiński stepping on the foot of Marko Roginić, a former GKS player now at Žilina. The referee pointed to the spot, and Miroslav Kacer sent Kobylak the wrong way, the ball going in off the post. The goal shifted momentum firmly to the hosts. Before half-time, Patrik Ilko curled a shot just wide and Fabian Bzdyl, a Cracovia academy product, also went close. GKS offered little in attack, with Ilja Szkurin and Marcel Wędrychowski isolated and Bartosz Nowak unable to influence the game.

Second-half sucker punch

Žilina needed only two minutes of the second half to take the lead. Kosa's shot from outside the box was parried by Kobylak, but Timotej Hranica was first to the rebound and tapped into an empty net. The 2-1 scoreline reflected the run of play. GKS struggled to create chances; a Bartosz Nowak free-kick in the 62nd minute was comfortably saved by Badzgon. Coach Rafał Górak made a triple substitution shortly after, withdrawing Szkurin among others, and the visitors improved slightly. Borja Galan had a shot deflected over, and GKS pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but could not find a way through.

Return to Europe after 23 years

The match marked GKS Katowice's first European fixture since the 2003 UEFA Cup qualifiers, when the club (then known as Dospel Katowice) were eliminated by Cementarnica Skopje on away goals after two draws. That ended a run of ten consecutive seasons in European competition. The current side, under Górak since July 2011, secured their return by finishing fifth in the league. The away support in Žilina was vocal throughout, reflecting the long wait.

What's next

The return leg is scheduled for 30 July at the Stadion Miejski in Katowice. GKS must overturn a one-goal deficit to reach the third qualifying round. Žilina, who dropped into the Conference League after losing to Hajduk Split in the Europa League first qualifying round (0-2 away, 2-1 home), will travel with a narrow advantage. The tie remains finely balanced.