Prediction: Zalgiris Vilnius vs Hajduk Split

Zalgiris Vilnius and Hajduk Split will meet in Vilnius on Thursday evening, as the two sides begin their 2026/27 UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie.

Zalgiris reached this stage after a huge comeback against Dinamo Tbilisi, while Hajduk dropped into this competition after their Europa League collapse against Pafos FC.

Verdict: Hajduk Split to win
Best odds: 97/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet

Zalgiris Vilnius

Zalgiris comes into this match with confidence, and there is an obvious reason for that. They lost 3-0 away to Dinamo Tbilisi in the first leg, then won the return match 7-2 and went through 7-5 on aggregate.

That kind of result can change the mood around a team very quickly. Zalgiris were basically out of the tie, but they attacked with courage, took risks and turned the whole situation around in Vilnius.

That also tells us what Hajduk should expect. Zalgiris will not be scared of the match. They are at home, they have just scored seven goals in a European qualifier, and they know Hajduk is coming after two bad results.

The match can become very open if Zalgiris starts quickly. They have players who are comfortable in transitions, and former Hajduk players Marko Capan and Petar Bosančić will know exactly how much pressure is on the Croatian side.

Still, there is another side to that story. Zalgiris conceded five goals across two matches against Dinamo Tbilisi. If they play too wildly again, Hajduk should have space to attack. That is where the away win starts to make sense.

Zalgiris Vilnius Team News

Andrius Skerla should keep most of the team that produced the 7-2 win over Dinamo Tbilisi. There is no reason for Zalgiris to move too far away from that setup after such a big European result.

Marko Capan should be an interesting player in this tie. He came through Hajduk’s system, left for Žalgiris last winter and has already settled well in Lithuania.

Petar Bosančić is another former Hajduk player in the Zalgiris squad. That gives the home side a bit more local knowledge before facing Hajduk across two legs.

Zalgiris will probably try to start aggressively. They know Hajduk has problems away from home, so the first 20 minutes could be important.

Hajduk Split

Hajduk is under pressure. They had a 2-0 lead against Pafos in the Europa League second qualifying round, but then lost 4-0 after extra time in Cyprus and dropped into the Conference League.

That was a serious blow. Hajduk had the tie in their hands, but they conceded late, collapsed in extra time and made their European path much harder than it had to be.

They then lost 2-1 away to Varaždin in the opening round of the Croatian league, which only increased the pressure on Gonzalo Garcia. This is not a comfortable moment for Hajduk, and another bad result in Lithuania would create even more noise around the club.

Still, Hajduk has more individual quality than Zalgiris. That has to matter. Marko Livaja, Michele Sego, Dario Melnjak, Niko Sigur and the rest of the attacking group should be good enough to hurt a Zalgiris defense that has already looked open in Europe.

The key is attitude. Hajduk cannot play this like a team waiting for the return leg at Poljud. They already tried to protect a lead against Pafos and failed badly. In Vilnius, they need to be more aggressive, press better and make the difference in quality visible.

If they do that, the away win is realistic.

Hajduk Split Team News

Roko Brajković is out with a serious knee injury. That is a real blow because he gives Hajduk speed and directness in wide areas.

Niko Sigur has returned to the squad after missing the start of the season because of World Cup commitments. His return gives Garcia another useful option, especially in a match where Hajduk needs more balance and more running power.

Michele Sego should remain important in attack. He scored in the first leg against Pafos and gives Hajduk a clear presence in the final third.

Marko Livaja is expected to be central to the attacking plan. Hajduk needs more personality on the ball, and Livaja is still the player who can slow the game down, create chances and give the team a reference point.

Zalgiris Vilnius vs Hajduk Split key factors to consider

• Zalgiris beat Dinamo Tbilisi 7-2 in their previous European home match.
• Zalgiris went through 7-5 on aggregate after losing the first leg 3-0.
• Hajduk lost 4-0 after extra time to Pafos and dropped from Europa League qualifying into the Conference League.
• Hajduk also lost 2-1 away to Varaždin after the Pafos defeat.
• Roko Brajković is out for Hajduk with a serious knee injury.
• Niko Sigur has returned to the Hajduk squad.
• The second leg will be played at Poljud on August 13.
• The winner will face Raków or Hammarby in the play-off round.

Conclusion

Zalgiris is dangerous at home. They showed that against Dinamo Tbilisi, and Hajduk cannot treat this like an easy draw just because the opponent comes from Lithuania.

The problem for Zalgiris is that their style can also help Hajduk. If the home side plays with the same attacking risk, they will leave space. Hajduk has enough quality to use that space better than Dinamo Tbilisi did.

Hajduk is not in good form, so this is not a comfortable pick. Their away results are a concern, the Pafos collapse was ugly, and Garcia is already under pressure.

Still, this is exactly the type of match where Hajduk has to respond. They have the better squad, they need to stop the negative run, and they should create chances against a Zalgiris side that plays open football. The away win is the best selection.

Verdict: Hajduk Split to win
Best odds: 97/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet

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