Warta Poznań faced off against Stal Rzeszów on March 1, 2025, at the Stadion Respect Energy, in what turned out to be another challenging game for the home team. This match was part of the 22nd round of Poland's 1. Liga 2024/2025 season.
Before the match, Warta Poznań occupied the 13th position, with Stal Rzeszów slightly higher up at 9th, both teams being separated by just ten points. Fans had hoped Warta could leverage their home advantage to secure three points. Coach Piotr Klepczarek surprised many by fielding two strikers—Michał Feliks and Maciej Firlej—despite Warta's recent struggles, having not won any of their last five games.
The match started slowly, with both sides appearing cautious. The opening minutes were described as "one large bore," according to witnesses, creating lackluster entertainment for the crowd. Warta’s first real opportunity came midway through the first half when Kacper Michalski found Krzysztof Drzazga with a well-placed pass, but Drzazga’s shot sailed just over the bar.
Just as it looked like both teams would head to halftime goalless, Stal Rzeszów earned a penalty after Michal Feliks handled the ball during a corner kick. Referee Łukasz Szczech checked the VAR and confirmed the foul. Michał Musik stepped up and drove the ball past Warta's goalkeeper Leo Przybylak, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at the stroke of halftime.
After the break, the dynamics shifted dramatically ten minutes later. A red card was issued to Kamil Kościelny of Stal for handling the ball outside the penalty area. This meant Stal was down to ten men, hoping to maintain their slim lead. Ironically, even with the numerical advantage, Warta struggled to assert dominance, failing to capitalize on their opportunities.
Warta’s Kacper Przybyłko also faced dismissal, earning two yellow cards before the 75th minute. Following this, the game saw both teams reduced to ten men which brought some unexpected urgency to Warta's play.
Despite being down to ten, Stal still managed to create several chances, highlighting Warta’s offensive inefficacy. A chance came and went for Bartosz Szeliga, who had been among the few bright spots for the home squad, but he, too, couldn’t convert, keeping Warta frustratingly scoreless.
By the final whistle, the score remained at 1-0, marking Warta's fifth consecutive match without victory. The specter of potential relegation looms larger as they prepare for their next match against ŁKS Łódź, scheduled for March 7, where they will face another uphill battle to secure their first win of the season.
Warta's effort showed signs of improvement but not enough to yield results, leaving players and fans alike concerned about the team's future performance. Meanwhile, Stal Rzeszów celebrated not only the victory but also their recent upturn, marking this match as another step toward maintaining their standing as they look forward to the next challenges within the season.