The season started on 14 July 2017 and concluded on 20 May 2018.[5] It is the first Ekstraklasa season to use VAR. After the 21st matchday the league went on a winter break between 18 December 2017 and 9 February 2018. The regular season was played as a round-robin tournament. A total of 16 teams participated, 14 of which competed in the league during the 2016–17 season, while the remaining two were promoted from the I liga after the 2016–17 season. The fixtures were announced on 8 June 2017.[5]
Each team played a total of 30 matches, half at home and half away. After the 30th round (in the beginning of April 2018), the league split into two groups: championship round (top eight teams) and relegation round (bottom eight teams). Each team played 7 more games (teams ranked 1-4 and 9-12 played four times at home). So, finally each team played a total of 37 matches. The team at the top of the Championship round wins the league title. The two teams at the bottom of the Relegation round are demoted to I liga for the 2018–19 season. This was the fifth season to take place since the new playoff structure has been introduced.
Legia successfully defended their title, sealing the league trophy for a 13th time in dramatic circumstances as their deciding game against Lech Poznan was abandoned due to flares and pitch invasions by Lech fans (after Legia went 2-0 ahead).[6] Legia were awarded the tie 3-0 and three points secured 1st place.
Teams
Sixteen teams will compete in the league – the top fourteen teams from the previous season, as well as two teams promoted from the I liga. Sandecja Nowy Sącz were promoted to the Ekstraklasa for the first time.[7]Górnik Zabrze returned to Ekstraklasa after a one-year absence.[8]
Source: Ekstraklasa, 90minut Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw. (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played.)[45] Notes:
^Górnik Zabrze were punished after the 26th round with a deduction of three points because of stadium destruction by the fans.[42]The appeal against the penalty has been accepted on 22 March 2018.[43]
Source: 90minut.pl Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Source: Ekstraklasa, 90minut Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if only two teams); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fairplay ranking; 10) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[46] (C) Champions
Source: 90minut.pl Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Source: Ekstraklasa, 90minut Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if only two teams); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fairplay ranking; 10) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[47] (R) Relegated
Source: 90minut.pl Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.