Europa League Preview: Pafos vs Hajduk Split

At 1:00am Beijing time on July 31, Pafos will host Hajduk Split in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the 2026/27 Europa League. Pafos lost the first leg 2-0 away, so they must win by two goals at home just to level the tie and force extra time, while a three-goal margin would be needed to complete a direct comeback. With a home side that has to attack facing an opponent set up to defend and counter, the second leg looks far more intriguing than the first-leg scoreline alone suggests.

Pafos are one of the rising forces in Cypriot football. Founded only in 2014, the club won the Cypriot top-flight title for the first time in the 2024-25 season and, last season, made history by reaching the Champions League proper, drawing 2-2 at home with Monaco and beating Villarreal 1-0.

Recent form is a concern for Pafos. The new Cypriot season does not begin until late August, leaving the team reliant on friendlies to maintain rhythm, and they posted one win, one draw and two defeats across four such matches. Their only competitive game so far was the 2-0 first-leg loss to Hajduk, where they failed to show enough quality at either end of the pitch.

Founded in 1911, Hajduk Split are one of Croatia's most historic clubs. Yet their last appearance in the proper stages of European competition dates back to the 2010-11 Europa League group stage. After a 15-year wait, returning to the main draw of a European tournament has become a major target for the entire club.

Hajduk began this season in the qualifiers and edged past Zilina 3-2 on aggregate in the first round. They won 2-0 at home and, although they lost 2-1 away, it was still enough to go through.

The main concern for Hajduk is their away form. In their last six away matches, they have managed just one win, along with three draws and two defeats. There are also defensive issues to consider, with six goals conceded across those six away games.

Pafos should have a good chance of scoring with home support behind them, but overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit looks extremely difficult, especially with a key attacking player unavailable. As long as Hajduk avoid a costly mistake, their counter-attacking efficiency and control in midfield should give them every chance of protecting their advantage away from home. For a side desperate to return to the proper stages of European competition after 15 years, this is a tie they cannot afford to let slip.

Prediction: Hajduk Split to avoid defeat away from home.

Kick-off: 2026-07-31 01:00 Beijing time.