KuPS, the reigning Finnish champion, faced a tough battle in the second leg of the Conference League playoff against Lech Poznan in Poland. The match concluded with a score of 1-0 in favor of Lech, securing their place in the next round with an aggregate score of 3-0. The decisive goal was scored by Pablo Rodriguez in the 65th minute, who found the bottom right corner from just outside the box. Following this goal, the home team eased off and controlled the game with relative comfort.

KuPS entered the match as significant underdogs, and the situation worsened early in the game when defender Akseli Puukko had to leave the field due to injury just nine minutes in. The attacking efforts from KuPS were notably lacking in precision, with their best chances failing to convert. Petteri Pennanen had some promising opportunities but could not find the target, ending any hopes of a comeback for the Finnish side.

This matchup marked a historic moment as KuPS was the first Finnish team to reach the playoff stage of the Conference League. However, despite their efforts, they lost the first leg at home 0–2 and ultimately fell short in their quest for European glory, highlighting the challenges faced by teams from smaller football leagues in breaking through on the continental stage.