Multiple Europa Conference League first qualifying round second-leg ties take place on Friday morning, with Zilina hosting Hajduk Split. Zilina are in poor form and were beaten 2-0 away in the first leg, leaving them with a clear disadvantage. Even back on home soil, they are still expected to struggle to overturn the deficit.
As one of the stronger sides in the Slovak top flight, Zilina have looked well below their best in preseason preparations for the new campaign. They are still without a win in their last five matches across all competitions, recording three draws and two defeats. In that run, they have scored only three goals in total and failed to score in three matches, underlining their attacking problems. Their display in the first leg against Hajduk Split was especially disappointing, as they were completely pinned back and managed just one shot on target in a 0-2 defeat. Even returning home for the second leg, Zilina appear outmatched in every department and look to have little chance of winning.
In contrast, Hajduk Split have been in excellent form. Their preseason work ahead of the new season has gone smoothly, and they have won four straight matches in all competitions. That sequence includes three friendly wins, followed by the 2-0 first-leg victory over Zilina in the Europa Conference League qualifier, with Rokas Pukstas and Dajelson on the scoresheet to give them the upper hand in the tie. Their defensive record during this winning run has been especially impressive, with four clean sheets in four matches. Away from home in the second leg, Hajduk Split should still be able to rely on that strong defence to get the job done.