Hajduk Split vs Pafos FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Hajduk Split volition look to prehend power of their Europa League 2nd qualifying circular necktie with different first-leg triumph astatine Stadion Poljud erstwhile they invited Pafos FC connected Thursday.

The Croatian hosts made location vantage number successful a 3-2 aggregate triumph implicit Slovakian broadside Zilina successful the erstwhile circular contempt losing the instrumentality leg, portion the visitors booked their spot astatine this signifier by winning the 2025-26 Cypriot Cup.

Match preview

Hajduk took complaint of their Europa League archetypal qualifying circular necktie with a 2-0 triumph implicit Zilina astatine Stadion Poljud earlier extending that vantage with a accelerated commencement successful past week's instrumentality fixture.

Gonzalo Garcia's broadside took the pb successful Slovakia done Alec Van Hoorenbeeck moments earlier the break, but Marko Roginic restored parity earlier Dario Melnjak's stoppage-time ain extremity secured a 2-1 triumph connected the nighttime for the hosts, though the Croatians inactive progressed connected aggregate.

That decision ended a seven-match unbeaten tally crossed each competitions for the Split outfit, who had finished 2nd successful the Croatian apical formation aft taking 4 points from their last 2 league matches earlier winning each 3 pre-season friendlies.

Supporters volition not beryllium overly acrophobic by that setback, arsenic progression moved the Whites 1 measurement person to a archetypal quality successful the main signifier of a European contention since their Europa League radical run successful 2010-11, having besides reached the Champions League quarter-finals successful 1994-95.

Heading into Thursday’s clash, Garcia's men volition gully assurance from winning each of their erstwhile 3 location matches, with each of those victories coming by astatine slightest a two-goal margin, and Hajduk volition anticipation to physique different steadfast vantage earlier adjacent week's instrumentality limb successful Cyprus.

Pafos caput into this brushwood connected the backmost of an underwhelming pre-season campaign, winning conscionable 1 of 4 friendlies portion suffering defeats to Jagiellonia (1-0) and Slovan Bratislava (3-2).

The travel to Split marks the Cypriot side's archetypal competitory fixture successful astir 2 months aft ending the 2025-26 play with a 2-0 triumph implicit Apollon successful the Cypriot Cup final, handing Ricardo Sa Pinto his archetypal trophy since taking complaint successful April.

Pafos person enjoyed a singular emergence successful caller years, winning the Cypriot rubric for the archetypal clip successful 2024-25, though they could lone decorativeness 4th past season, ending 25 points down champions Omonia.  

The nine volition nevertheless anticipation to scope the main signifier of a European contention for a 3rd successive play aft their Conference League round-of-16 tally successful 2024-25 and historical Champions League league signifier quality past term.

Pafos are unbeaten successful their past 4 competitory matches, scoring precisely doubly successful each outing, portion each 3 victories during that spell came with cleanable sheets, highlighting the value of maintaining their antiaircraft subject connected Thursday.
 

Hajduk Split Europa League form:

Pafos FC pre-season friendlies form:

Team News

Garcia is expected to clasp his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, though Dalisson de Almeida could instrumentality to the starting lineup aft coming disconnected the seat successful Slovakia pursuing his debut extremity successful the archetypal leg.

Hoorenbeeck, who precocious joined from Twente, is acceptable to support his spot successful cardinal defence aft opening his relationship for the nine successful past week's 2nd leg.

Niko Sigur returned from World Cup work with Canada but was not progressive successful either gathering against Zilina, and it remains to beryllium seen whether helium volition diagnostic connected Thursday.

Michele Sego, who scored 13 league goals past season, is expected to spearhead the attack, with Roko Brajkovic and Melnjak providing enactment from the flanks.

Pafos person strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Guga, Murad Mammadov, Charalampos Kyriakidis and Michalis Papastylianou during the summertime window.

Veteran defender David Luiz is expected to marshal the backmost line, portion Lele could pb the onslaught successful what is apt to beryllium a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Hajduk Split imaginable starting lineup:

Silic; Acapandie, Maresic, Van Hoorenbeeck, Hrgovic; Pukstas, Pajaziti; Brajkovic, Dali, Melnjak; Sego 

Pafos FC imaginable starting lineup:

Kyriakidis; Bruno, Luiz, Goldar, Ioannou; Pepe, Sunjic; Jaja, Dragomir, Biel; Lele

We say: Hajduk Split 2-0 Pafos FC

This volition beryllium the archetypal gathering betwixt the 2 clubs, leaving small erstwhile past to gully upon, but Pafos' unconvincing pre-season signifier could manus Hajduk the edge.

The Croatian broadside person been beardown connected location ungraded successful caller months and should person capable prime to physique a utile first-leg vantage earlier travelling to Cyprus.

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