Marko Livaja set to return to Hajduk's starting lineup: Varaždin presents the first major test of the new league season
Marko Livaja is expected to start an official match for Hajduk for the first time this season on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The Split-based team visits Varaždin at 6:30 p.m. in the opening round of the SuperSport HNL, and the expected return of the captain to the starting 11 is the most important personnel change being prepared by coach Gonzalo Garcia. The final decision will not be confirmed until the official lineups are announced immediately before kickoff, but according to the available information, Livaja is the leading candidate for the center-forward position.
Such an outcome would mark a change compared with Hajduk's first four European matches of the 2026/27 season, in each of which the 32-year-old forward came on from the bench. During July, Garcia gave preference in the starting lineup to a more mobile attacking structure, adapted to high intensity, pressure on the opponent's back line and frequent positional changes. In Varaždin, the team is expected to return to Livaja as its central attacking focal point, while Michele Šego could be moved to the left wing, a position from which he can attack space and make runs toward the penalty area.
First start since the May away match against Lokomotiva
Livaja was last in Hajduk's starting lineup on May 16, 2026, in the penultimate, 35th round of the previous league season. Hajduk drew 1:1 with Lokomotiva in Zagreb on that occasion, and the captain left the field in the 65th minute. After that, he remained on the bench in the final round against Vukovar 1991, and the same pattern continued in the European qualifiers in July.
According to a report by 24sata, Livaja was given four minutes in the first match against Žilina, six in the return leg in Slovakia, 13 against Pafos at Poljud, and 57 minutes in the return leg in Cyprus, including extra time. Hajduk's official match report from the game in Limassol confirms that he came on in the 63rd minute, after which he participated in several of the visiting team's most dangerous attacks. In stoppage time, his diagonal shot went just wide of the post, and in extra time he had another attempt following a pass from Rokas Pukštas.
Four appearances from the bench do not mean that Livaja has lost his importance within the team, but rather show that Garcia is trying to adapt his role to the demands of each individual match. The coach has repeatedly emphasized that Hajduk's style of play changes when the captain is on the pitch. Livaja brings the ability to retain the ball under pressure, play with his back to goal, provide the final pass and finish chances, but the team around him must distribute its running and defensive duties differently.
Garcia seeks a balance between quality and intensity
Ahead of the trip to Varaždin, Garcia said that he has a good relationship with Livaja and rejected interpretations according to which the decision about the starting lineup depends on the personal relationship between the coach and the captain. His message is that Livaja must be used thoughtfully, especially during a period in which Hajduk plays every three or four days. The coach pointed out that the captain is working hard, but also that he will start some matches and come off the bench in others.
Such an approach is directly connected to Garcia's assessment of the physical demands. After the return leg against Žilina, he explained that Hajduk must play differently with Livaja, although he praised his ability to win long balls and duels. Ahead of Varaždin, he again emphasized that he does not want every decision to be turned into a conflict and summarized his plan by saying that the team must "use the captain wisely."
The expected attacking setup therefore has a clear logic. Livaja would operate as the most advanced player, Šego could make runs into the final third from the left side, and the midfielders would have to close the space behind the ball at the right moments. Šego was Hajduk's leading league scorer last season with 13 goals, while Livaja scored nine. Using them together from the first minute gives the coach two different attacking threats: Livaja's play between the lines and Šego's speed in vertical attacks.
Unofficial lineup projections leave room for additional changes as well. According to 24sata, 19-year-old Roko Gabrić could be given an opportunity in defense, while Niko Sigur is one of the candidates to return to the starting 11. With such a setup, Garcia would refresh the team after the long and exhausting return leg in Cyprus, but without completely abandoning the core that carried the team through the European matches. The official lineup, as always, remains open until the match sheet is published.
Hajduk must respond quickly after the heavy defeat in Cyprus
The league opener comes only three days after a convincing European defeat. The Split-based team defeated Pafos 2:0 in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League, but lost the return leg in Limassol 4:0 after extra time. According to the club's official report, Pafos leveled the aggregate score with a goal in the first minute of stoppage time and then took the lead in the tie with its third goal in the 93rd minute.
The day before the match against Varaždin, Garcia admitted that his team had not performed at the required level in Cyprus. At the same time, he warned that the European elimination could not be viewed only through the final 4:0 scoreline because Hajduk had a result that was taking the team through until the closing stages of regular time. His assessment is that the team looks very good when it is aggressive, disciplined and precise in implementing the plan, but that its weaknesses become visible as soon as the intensity or concentration drops.
Before Pafos, Hajduk eliminated Žilina with an aggregate score of 3:2. The team won 2:0 at Poljud and lost 2:1 in Slovakia, with Garcia speaking after the return leg about greater maturity and better cohesion within the team. The defeat in Limassol therefore raised the question of how quickly the young squad can mentally move on from European elimination and switch to the league campaign. The away match in Varaždin provides the first answer, while Livaja's return to the starting lineup should bring experience and composure during phases when the match becomes tight or nervous.
The schedule does not leave Hajduk much time for recovery. As early as Thursday, August 6, the Split club visits Žalgiris in the third qualifying round of the Conference League, while the return leg at Poljud is scheduled for August 13. Between those two matches, Hajduk hosts Istra 1961 on August 9. It is precisely because of such a sequence that Garcia insists on rotation and managing playing time, especially for the players who carry the greatest creative and results-related burden.
From a disciplinary case to a return to the center of the team
Livaja's summer preparations did not pass without disruption. On June 28, Hajduk officially announced that the captain had left the training camp in Bled early due to a breach of the club's disciplinary regulations and failure to comply with the rules established for the team's stay. At the time, the club did not provide additional details about the incident itself, so outside the officially confirmed information, it is not justified to draw conclusions about its seriousness or background.
A week later, on July 5, a meeting between Livaja, coach Garcia and sporting director Robert Graf was held at Poljud. According to the club's announcement, the discussion took place in a constructive tone, Livaja agreed to sign the disciplinary regulations, completed the prescribed running session and rejoined the regular work of the first team. With that, the club formally closed the case and redirected attention toward its competitive obligations.
Garcia's later statements indicate that the coach explains decisions about Livaja's playing time through tactical and physical reasons rather than as a continuation of the disciplinary procedure. Ahead of Varaždin, he said that he sees the captain as happier than last season, while noting that every player naturally wants as much time on the pitch as possible. The expected start would therefore be an important signal that his role has been normalized, but not a guarantee that he will automatically start every subsequent match.
Varaždin showed last season how difficult an opponent it can be
Hajduk does not begin the league campaign against an opponent that can be viewed as a routine obstacle. In the official preview, Garcia praised Varaždin for its clear game plan, squad continuity and systematic player development. Nikola Šafarić's team competed in the Conference League qualifiers this summer, defeating Czech side Jablonec 3:2 at home but losing the return leg 2:0 and ending its European campaign.
Both teams therefore enter the opening round of the SuperSport HNL after European eliminations and with a very short period for physical and psychological recovery. Varaždin will seek to take advantage of its home ground, familiar patterns of play and the fact that it retained most of the team, while Hajduk must prove that the defeat in Cyprus has not left deeper consequences. In such circumstances, the first goal could strongly shape the course of the match.
Last season's results provide an additional warning for Hajduk. Varaždin won 2:0 at home in September 2025, while the next two league meetings ended 1:1, first at Poljud and then again in Varaždin. Hajduk did not win until the fourth head-to-head match of the season, claiming a 3:1 victory in Split on May 3, 2026. The record shows that Varaždin earned at least a point in three of the four matches and regularly managed to limit Hajduk's attacking output.
For Garcia, it will therefore be important to avoid slow and predictable ball circulation. Livaja can help by receiving the ball between the lines and switching play toward the wings, but the home side will probably try to close the space around him and force the visitors into crosses from unfavorable positions. Moving Šego to the flank should create more runs in behind, while the midfield will have to react quickly to Varaždin's transitions.
High temperatures are an additional factor in the match
The match begins at 6:30 p.m., but weather conditions could still be very demanding at that time. For August 2, the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service forecasts sunny and very hot weather, with maximum daily temperatures in most parts of the country between 34 and 39 degrees Celsius. An orange warning has been issued for the Zagreb region, which also includes the Varaždin area within the warning system, due to a heat wave and a possible health risk for vulnerable groups.
The heat could affect the tempo, the frequency of high pressing and the distribution of energy throughout the match. This is another reason why changes are expected compared with the lineup that played 120 minutes against Pafos. In such conditions, the bench and well-timed substitutions can have almost as much importance as the starting lineup, especially during the final half hour.
According to Hajduk's official preview, the main referee will be Patrik Kolarić from Čakovec. The assistant referees are Ivan Janić and Dino Knez, the fourth official is Filip Dragašević, while Igor Pajač has been appointed as the VAR, assisted by Luka Pušić. The match will be played at the City Stadium in Varaždin.
Livaja's performance continues to define the limits of Hajduk's ambitions
According to Hajduk's official data ahead of the match, Livaja has played 206 official matches for the club, scored 104 goals and recorded 61 assists. He ranks among the ten leading scorers in the club's history, and his influence extends beyond statistics alone. As captain and the player through whom most attacks have been shaped for years, he remains the team's most recognizable figure and the footballer expected to resolve the most difficult situations.
At the same time, Garcia is trying to build a system that will not depend on a single player during every phase of the match. The arrival of 21-year-old winger Marin Šotiček on loan from Basel, with an option to buy, increases competition on the flanks. The club announced that Šotiček is traveling to Varaždin and could receive his first minutes, although he has completed only his initial training sessions with his new teammates.
Livaja's possible return to the starting 11 is therefore not merely a personnel update, but the first serious indicator of how Garcia intends to combine the captain's individual quality with a faster and more physically demanding model of play. In Varaždin, it will become clear whether Hajduk can retain its aggression without the ball with Livaja leading the attack, gain security in possession and simultaneously free Šego to make runs from the wing.
The league start is also important for Hajduk because of the atmosphere following the European disappointment. A victory would reduce the pressure ahead of the tie against Žalgiris and confirm that the team can quickly shift its focus. Varaždin, however, has enough continuity and experience from last season to punish any underestimation. That is precisely why Livaja's expected start carries more weight than an ordinary change on the match sheet: from the first minute, the captain should take responsibility for the team's response in the first league challenge of the season.
Sources:
- HNK Hajduk Split – preview of the Varaždin – Hajduk match and statements by coach Gonzalo Garcia (link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – official information about the schedule, European results, new player and refereeing team (link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – official profile of Marko Livaja and current club statistics (link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – overview of the 2025/26 league season, results and player performances (link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – official report from the Pafos – Hajduk return leg (link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – announcements about Livaja leaving the training camp and the subsequent meeting with the coach and sporting director (link; link)
- HNK Hajduk Split – official announcement of Marin Šotiček's arrival (link)
- 24sata – information about the expected lineup, Livaja's playing time and Garcia's statements (link)
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service – forecast and heat-wave warning for August 2, 2026 (link; link)