Matchday 1 of Group D will see Atalanta get off in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League with the home clash against Raków Częstochowa at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo (scheduled for Thursday the 21st of September and to kick-off at 21:00 CEST).

The team is coached by Polish trainer Dawid Szwarga, who was recently promoted to the helm of the Club after having spent the previous 2 seasons as assistant coach to Marek Papszun, the former trainer who led the Club on their way to the third division to the Polish top flight. So far this season the Medaliki have disputed 15 matches between the league and the national and international Cups (the season started on 11/7). After 6 Estraklasa fixtures, the team has accrued 13 points, sitting 4th in the league (3 points behind league leaders Slask Wiroclaw) with two games in hand. In their latest league fixture before the matchup at the Gewiss Stadium, Raków Częstochowa defeated LKS Lodz 1-0 at home last Saturday, the 16th of September. After a long path in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers defeating Flora Tallinn, Qarabag and Aris Limassol, the Polish Club was forced to a grinding halt against F.C. Copenhagen.

History – The Polish Club, which turned 100 a couple of years ago having been founded in 1921, enter the competition for the first time in their history after having won their first-ever league title. The 5 titles comprising the Club’s silverware (namely, a league, two Polish cups and two Polish super cups) have all been conquered in the last three seasons. They are a testimony to the growth experienced by Raków Częstochowa, with their run from the Third Division to being crowned Polish champions in 7 years as the most tangible feat. Last season they won the Estraklasa (the Polish First Division) with a 9-point lead over Legia Warszawa and the Supercup after defeating Lech Poznan 2-0.