Europa League Qualifier Preview: Hajduk Split vs Pafos

At 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 24, Europa League qualifying brings a meeting between Hajduk Split and Pafos, with Hajduk hosting the first leg. The result of this match is expected to shape the tactical approach for the return fixture.

Hajduk Split play in the Croatian top flight, with their domestic league campaign not yet underway. In the 2025-26 season, they finished second with 68 points from 36 matches, posting a record of 20 wins, 8 draws and 8 defeats. Although they ended the season 18 points behind the champions, their league form was still strong, averaging 1.68 goals scored per game and 1 goal conceded per game.

Hajduk have also been impressive at home, winning their last three home matches, each by a margin of at least two goals. In their most recent two Europa League matches, they recorded one win and one defeat. After winning the first leg 2-0 at home, they lost 2-1 away but still advanced to this round by a one-goal aggregate margin.

Tactically, Hajduk tend to attack down the flanks while placing emphasis on possession and central pressing. Their usual setup is a 4-2-3-1, though they can switch shape depending on the situation. Their full-backs also often push high forward to join the attack.

Pafos come from the Cypriot top division. In the 2025-26 league stage, they collected 51 points to finish fourth, 10 points behind the leaders, and they also placed fourth in the championship playoff, indicating they were not among the league's strongest sides.

Pafos' last four matches have all been friendlies, with a return of one win, one draw and two defeats. After staying unbeaten in the first two, they have since lost the last two friendlies in a row, with both defeats coming by a one-goal margin. Their away form has also been unconvincing, with three draws and two losses in their last five away games.

On the road, Pafos are more inclined to defend deep and look for counter-attacks, often relying on the pace of their wide players to break quickly into opposition territory. Defensively, they more often line up in a 5-4-1 shape.

There is no previous head-to-head record between the two sides. Given Pafos' poor away record and the challenge of travelling for this match, they appear to hold little advantage. Hajduk Split recently claimed a 2-0 home win in Europa League action, and home form remains their main source of points, so they are favoured to win this first leg.

Prediction: Hajduk Split to win.

Match time: 2026-07-24 03:00