Krychowiak and LaLiga fever in Poland

August 12, 2014. Having got La Décima, and having complied with the real obsession of Real Madrid, Ancelotti's men went strong to get the second Super Cup in Madrid's history. The rival seemed to be a modest opponent. Even after their very good season in the Europa League, beating Unai Emery´s Sevilla FC would be just one more step on the way towards the target for the White club.

And so it was. With two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid took from Cardiff victory and the title. However, it also took something else. Cristiano was left with the desire to complete the hat-trick in an interrupted action by a still little known name (then) in Spanish football: Grzegorz Krychowiak. That night the Polish midfielder made his debut in the team from "La Bombonera de Nervión" and although so far has never managed to win to Real Madrid, for Emery, his "fighter" with the number 4, as he himself admits, is an antidote for Cristiano and Leo Messi.

 
This matchday, all eyes will be at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. This is where the current champion of the Europa League will receive the league leader. Grzegorz Krychowiak and Sevilla will be measuring strength against Cristiano's Real Madrid, currently unbeaten in all competitions. A clash between David and Goliath. This is how Sevilla´s fans will frame it, and that´s how the Polish fans that follow LaLiga will see it too. In Poland we really love Spanish football - Who doesn't love it? - And among foreign leagues LaLiga and Premier League are on top and the difference from the rest is remarkable.

There aren't many, but are some quite curious connections between Spanish and Polish grounds. Beginning with the players of the past, two of biggest names would be, undoubtedly, Jan Urban and Wojciech Kowalczyk. The first one, very well known among fans of Osasuna: former "Rojillo" player (1989 - 1994, with 168 games and 49 goals). The second, Wojciech Kowalczyk, predecessor of Krychowiak in Sevilla lands. Between 1994 and 1997, coming from Legia Warsaw, he played for Real Betis 62 games and scored 14 goals.

Another Spanish-Polish link are the Polish fans of Barcelona and Real Madrid. And it must be stressed: immense crowd of fans. The two have formed supporters clubs, accredited by their respective clubs. The Fan Club Barça Polska is, outside Spain, one of the largest Barca fan clubs in the world (gathers about 1200 members). As for Real Madrid, the Polish club page, RealMadryt.pl, is the third page of sports-themed most visited in the country. In 2014, during the final of the Champions League, the Club created by the founders of the web, White Eagle, brought together nearly 800 fans in Warsaw to watch the game on a giant screen.

Today, when any football fan thinks "Poland", his thought is usually followed by Robert Lewandowski. When it is heard by a fan of Spanish football, thinks: Grzegorz Krychowiak. We are very proud of Lewandowski. Therefore, we have come to believe that could be the first Polish player capable to join the two great players from LaLiga on the podium of the prestigious Golden Ball in its next edition. Nevertheless, Krychowiak make us even prouder. Why? To see how much are proud of him in Sevilla. Not even Maradona had so much support!