Legia Warszawa vs Hapoel Beer Sheva

Legia started brightly but fell behind in the 23rd minute when Amir Ganah finished past Otto Hindrich after a defensive lapse. The Polish side had chances — Mileta Rajović headed straight at the goalkeeper from Ruben Vinagre's cross in the 18th minute, and Rafał Adamski fired over from 16 metres — but could not convert.

Damian Szymański was booked in the 6th minute for a foul on the halfway line and received a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time, reducing Legia to ten men. The hosts went into the break trailing 0-1.

Marek Papszun made eight changes at half-time, introducing an entirely new outfield. The reshaped side levelled in the 59th minute: Zjawiński latched onto a through ball, drove into the box and slotted low across the goalkeeper from 15 metres.

Hindrich kept Legia level with a sharp save in the 64th minute, and two minutes later Zjawiński struck again, finding space in the area to finish from close range. The comeback was complete in the 68th minute when Arkadiusz Reca's corner found Wszołek, who powered a header into the net.

Stanisław Gieroba missed a gilt-edged chance in the 78th minute, slicing wide from 11 metres. Late substitute Antonio Čolak collided with the Hapoel goalkeeper in the closing stages; both players required treatment, with Čolak leaving the pitch with ice on his eye socket.

Szymański's dismissal in first-half stoppage time might have derailed Legia's plans, but Papszun's mass half-time reshuffle — eight changes, including the introduction of Zjawiński and Wszołek — transformed the game. The 10 men played with greater intensity and scored three times in nine minutes, making the red card a footnote rather than a decisive factor.

• Łukasz Zjawiński — introduced at half-time and scored twice in seven minutes (59', 66'), showing sharp movement and composure. Papszun said he could have had a hat-trick. Player of the match.
• Paweł Wszołek — making his return from injury, the winger played 33 minutes, scored a header from a corner and looked sharp. "After his injury there is no trace," Papszun said.
• Otto Hindrich — the goalkeeper made a vital one-on-one save in the first half after his own error, and another key stop at 1-1 in the 64th minute that prevented Hapoel retaking the lead.

Legia's 3-1 scoreline flatters Hapoel. Papszun estimated his side created 6-7 clear chances in the first half alone despite trailing, and said the game "should have ended 7-1 or 8-2." The first half told a story of wastefulness (0 goals from 6-7 chances) rather than Hapoel dominance. The second half: three goals from five or six more chances, with a 100% conversion rate on the definitive moves. Hapoel, by contrast, created little beyond Ganah's opener and Hindrich's 64th-minute save.

This was Legia's second pre-season friendly of summer 2026 under manager Marek Papszun, and their second win. The squad continues preparations at the LTC ahead of the 2026/27 Ekstraklasa season. Next up: AS Trenčín on 10 July at 16:00 local time at the LTC.

Antonio Čolak's eye injury is a concern — he was taken to hospital after the match. Papszun confirmed that Ivan Brkić is training individually and may feature in the next friendly against Radomiak Radom. Wahan Biczachczjan is expected back in the next match.

Hapoel Beer Sheva, who will enter European qualifiers this month, used the match as a fitness test under manager Ran Kozuch.

A pre-season friendly that told Papszun plenty: his first-half XI created chances but lacked sharpness, while the second-half group showed what squad depth and a half-time tactical reset can achieve. The 10-man comeback will please him more than a routine win would have. Zjawiński's double strengthens his case for a starting role, and Wszołek's return from injury is a significant boost.

Attendance: Behind closed doors (Legia Training Center, Urszulin)