Wisla Krakow Women — Sleza Wroclaw Women: 53:86, Energa Basket Liga Women

Wrocław women secured a comfortable 86-53 victory over Kraków in the Energa-Basket-Liga on Friday evening. The visitors took control early and never looked back, moving to within touching distance of the top two. It was the kind of performance that separates contenders from pretenders.

Wrocław sit third after 22 games with 16 wins and 6 losses, while Kraków have struggled for consistency. The hosts have lost four of their last five, including heavy defeats to Lublin. They picked up one win against Arka Gdynia but that felt like a temporary reprieve.

And here's the thing — we had backed this result before the game. Seventy per cent confidence in the visitors, and by then the signs were clear enough. Kraków's defence had been porous all season, and Wrocław's attack had been finding its rhythm. It wasn't a surprise when the scoreline told the story.

The visitors turned it on from the opening tip. They can raise the tempo when they need to, and they did exactly that here. Kraków sat deep and soaked it up for too long, then let the tie slip when it mattered. The old head of the visiting side settled them down and kept them focused.

What this means is that Wrocław fancy their chances of closing the gap on second place. Kraków need to find something — a change in shape or a different approach — before the next round. The form gap between these two sides is widening, not narrowing.