- HNK Hajduk Split are in form with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their last 5 matches, while MSK Zilina are on a poor run with 2 wins and 3 defeats during that same period.
- Dalisson de Almeida has scored 1 goal in 1 UEFA Europa League Qualifying match for Hajduk, so has the ability to finish off any move.
- MSK Zilina have won 2 and lost 2 of their 4 home matches in all competitions, while HNK Hajduk Split have won 1, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their 5 away matches in all competitions.
Contrast of styles could make this game close
HNK Hajduk Split will face an interesting test of their character against a solid MSK Zilina side that will look to break quickly on the counter in the first-leg of their UEFA Europa League Qualification tie at Pod Dubnom on Thursday.
Hajduk are buzzing after back-to-back wins, in which they beat Vukovar 1991 6-3 in the league and followed it up with a 2-0 win over Žilina in the Europa League Qualifying Round. Gonzalo Garcia has done a cracking job since taking over the reins on 1 July 2025, instilling a real pressing intensity and high-tempo passing game in his 4-2-3-1 set-up. The full-backs are expected to provide the width and Dalisson de Almeida provides a finishing edge to the wide movements.
The only thing that seems certain is that it will be a good game because Pavol Stano's men are the polar opposite to Hajduk and have set themselves up in a compact 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 since he took charge on 11 July 2025. The aim is to look to break quickly, so this is clearly a case of press vs counter.
Hajduk’s momentum should see them through
Žilina have lost their last 3 games, going 0-2 down to Hajduk and Podbrezova in their two most recent outings, and don't have any momentum to carry them into the second-leg of this tie.
Hajduk look the likelier winner here, but the draw is priced at 53/20, so we'll take the visitors to come through even though they are a narrow odds-on favourite at 99/100. The 59/25 about the home side makes little sense and is perhaps because they won the first-leg, but we'll stay with the form and take Hajduk to win the tie.
The contrast of these two styles could lead to a scrappy first-leg, but Hajduk's overall form and momentum is just stronger. Hajduk have won 5, drawn 3 and lost only 2 of their last 10 in all competitions, while Žilina have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 6 of their most recent 10 games.
Žilina are averaging 1.50 scored and 1.50 conceded per game at home and this match could open up a little if Hajduk pull them into a track meet. But Hajduk have scored 6 goals in their last 5 away games, so they should still have enough of a threat to finish this off on the road.
