Stal Mielec vs Podhale Nowy Targ

Kurzeja's early penalty in the 8th minute set the tone and forced Stal to chase the game from the outset. Against a side fielding a completely rotated XI in the second half, Podhale's comfortable three-goal cushion at the break meant the match was effectively settled by half-time.

Bartłomiej Kurzeja (Podhale): Opened the scoring with a composed penalty and led the line effectively during his time on the pitch.

Marcinho (Podhale): The Brazilian forward scored Podhale's fourth goal in the 65th minute, showcasing his movement and finishing ability against a disjointed Stal defence.

Piotr Wlazło (Stal Mielec): One of few established Stal players to start, Wlazło tried to orchestrate play from midfield in the first half but found little support from a makeshift side.

Player of the match: Bartłomiej Kurzeja — his early penalty broke the deadlock and Podhale never looked back.

Podhale's 5-1 victory reflected a gulf in preparation and squad coherence. Stal Mielec manager Damian Skiba used the match primarily as a fitness exercise, fielding an entirely different XI in each half — a common approach in early pre-season friendlies. The first-half lineup featured several trialists alongside established names like Israel Puerto, Kamil Kościelny and Piotr Wlazło, while the second-half side included academy products such as Natan Niedźwiedź and Jakub Małek alongside more trialists. Podhale, by contrast, appeared further along in their pre-season build and capitalised on Stal's lack of familiarity.

Stal conceded three goals in the first half and two in the second, while managing only one shot on target that found the net. The own goal in the 83rd minute underlined the chaotic nature of a side still finding its feet.

For Stal Mielec, this was a low-stakes fitness exercise. The I liga side is in the early stages of pre-season for the 2026/27 campaign, and Skiba will have learned more about his trialists than about the final result. The sheer number of trialists — several in each XI — indicates the club is still evaluating options for the season ahead.

Podhale Nowy Targ will take confidence from a dominant attacking display as they continue their own pre-season preparations. The result matters less than the performances, but scoring five goals away from home — even against a rotated opponent — builds momentum.

A pre-season mismatch in every sense. Podhale were sharper, more organised and more clinical. Stal Mielec's experimental approach — two completely different XIs, multiple trialists — explains the scoreline but not the defensive frailty. Pre-season results, however, are quickly forgotten once the league campaign begins.