Plan your visit to the Hajduk - Pafos FC football match in the Europa League qualifiers at Gradski Stadion Poljud in Split. The game takes place on 23 July 2026, so arrange your ticket purchase early enough to allow time for travel, security checks and entry to the stands
Hajduk - Pafos FC: guide to a European evening at Poljud
Hajduk and Pafos FC open their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie at the Poljud City Stadium. Kick-off is at 21:00, while the return leg will be played seven days later in Limassol. For both teams, the first match carries great importance: Hajduk want to take advantage of their home ground and build a lead before travelling to Cyprus, while Pafos are coming for a result that will allow them to take the decision back in front of their own supporters.
The home side have already opened their competitive season with two matches against Žilina. The 2:0 victory in Split showed how dangerous Hajduk can be when they raise the tempo early, attack down the flanks and force their opponents to retreat. The 2:1 defeat in the return leg also revealed the other side: when the intensity drops, the defence can be left exposed after losing the ball and a pass in behind. The 3:2 aggregate score was enough to advance, but Pafos are a more experienced and physically demanding opponent.
Pafos will play their first competitive match of the new season in Split. They finished the previous league campaign in fourth place and qualified for the Europa League by winning the Cypriot Cup. The season before that, they won the domestic championship, while during 2025/26 they played in the league phase of the Champions League. This is a team accustomed to away matches, long European campaigns and contests in which every mistake is punished.
Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters. Poljud already welcomed 22,352 spectators against Žilina, and an opponent with greater international experience is further increasing interest.
What is at stake for Hajduk and Pafos FC
This is not an evening on which the entire tie has to be decided, but it is an evening on which its direction can be changed. Hajduk will aim for a victory without conceding a goal, because such a result would allow them to take a more controlled approach in the return leg. Pafos, on the other hand, will be satisfied if they withstand the initial pressure, slow the match down and leave as many options as possible open for the second encounter.
The psychological context is also important. Hajduk advanced against Žilina after a very good first match and a considerably more nervous conclusion to the return leg. After qualification, coach Gonzalo Garcia emphasised that the team appears more mature and more connected than before, but at the same time he clearly identified Pafos as a very difficult opponent. The home side therefore enter with confirmation that they can withstand pressure from the scoreline, but also with a fresh warning that European ties rarely forgive periods of passivity.
Pafos, under Ricardo Sá Pinto, are not arriving as a team that has to dominate possession. Their first objective is to close the centre, slow Hajduk's distribution towards the wings and force the home side to attack against an organised defence. If Poljud's initial surge turns into impatience, the visitors have enough experienced players to break out through several passes and attack the space behind the full-backs.
Form before the first competitive meeting
Hajduk and Pafos FC have not previously played a competitive match against each other. As a result, there is no history of results that would offer a clear pattern, and it is more useful to examine their latest performances and the way the teams entered the season.
- Hajduk - Žilina 2:0: Roko Brajković and Dalisson scored the goals, while the home side created a series of chances down the flanks.
- Žilina - Hajduk 2:1: Alec Van Hoorenbeeck scored with a header after a set piece, while Hajduk preserved their aggregate advantage in the closing stages.
- Pafos FC - Cracovia: a Pafos victory in a friendly match.
- Jablonec - Pafos FC: a draw without a winner.
- Jagiellonia Białystok - Pafos FC and ŠK Slovan Bratislava - Pafos FC: defeats for the Cypriot team in the final stage of their preparations.
Hajduk players who can determine the tempo
Roko Brajković was Hajduk's most direct attacker in the first match against Žilina. His goal came after an individual move from the edge of the penalty area, and precisely that ability to resolve one-on-one situations could be important against Pafos's compact defence. Michele Šego did not score, but he attacked the space, made runs behind the final line and reached promising positions. His movement can open corridors for players arriving from deeper areas.
Dalisson scored at Poljud with a precise strike from outside the penalty area. If Pafos close the routes towards the six-yard box and allow the home side to shoot from distance, his technique becomes a serious weapon. Adrion Pajaziti can be important for the tempo of the passing and set pieces, while Rokas Pukštas provides running, aerial ability and late arrivals into the finishing area.
Marko Livaja came off the bench in the closing minutes of both matches against Žilina. His role against Pafos is therefore one of the biggest questions before kick-off. As a starter, he can occupy the centre-backs, lay the ball off to the midfielders and slow the attack down when Hajduk need control. As a substitute, he can enter against a more tired defence and immediately change the way the visitors defend their penalty area.
In the back line, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck attracts attention. The Belgian centre-back scored in Žilina after a free kick, and his aerial game can be important at both ends of the pitch. Hajduk will have to pay particular attention to the second ball following set pieces, because Pafos have several physically strong centre-backs and midfielders in their squad.
An interesting connection between the two clubs is goalkeeper Ivica Ivušić. He joined Hajduk from Pafos, with whom he won the championship and the cup. Even if he is not on the pitch, his knowledge of the opposition's attackers, set-piece patterns and reactions under pressure can be useful in preparing for the match.
Pafos FC: defensive experience and quality between the lines
Pafos's squad combines players with extensive international experience and footballers who are already accustomed to the Cypriot league. David Luiz remains the most recognisable name. His long passes can bypass the first wave of Hajduk's pressure, and he represents an aerial threat at set pieces. Alongside him, the defensive options include David Goldar, Bruno Felipe, Axel Guessand and new signing Samy Mmaee, a Moroccan international brought in on loan from GNK Dinamo Zagreb.
Immediately before the European away match, Pafos also signed goalkeeper Radosław Majecki on loan from AS Monaco. Since the transfer was completed only a few days before the encounter, the team selection will show whether he is ready to take his place between the posts immediately. Jay Gorter, Charalampos Kyriakidis and Michalis Papastylianou are also in the squad, giving Sá Pinto several options.
In midfield, Ivan Šunjić provides solidity in front of the defence. Pêpê can take charge of the first phase of building the attack, while Vlad Dragomir and Domingos Quina look for space between the opposition's midfield line and centre-backs. On the flanks, João Correia and Ken Sema can quickly turn a recovered ball into a transition. Anderson Silva leads the attacking options and was at the top of Pafos's club goalscoring chart in the 2025/26 league season.
The greatest danger for Hajduk will not necessarily come from long spells of possession by the visitors. Pafos can be most dangerous after a home corner, a lost ball or a full-back positioned too high. A single vertical pass towards Dragomir, Quina or a winger can open space for Anderson Silva to finish. That is why the balance behind the ball will be just as important as the number of players joining the attack.
Tactical points worth watching
- Hajduk's initial pressure: the home side will try to use the energy of the stands and the competitive rhythm from the tie against Žilina.
- Space behind the full-backs: Pafos's wingers will look for a quick transition as soon as Hajduk lose the ball in the opposition half.
- Set pieces: Van Hoorenbeeck has already scored with a header, while Pafos have several tall and experienced players in defence.
- Marko Livaja's role: whether he starts or comes off the bench changes Hajduk's play with their back to goal and the positioning of players in the finishing phase.
- The first fifteen minutes of the second half: Hajduk lost part of their control during that period in Žilina, so Garcia will demand a more stable return from the dressing room.
Poljud and the atmosphere visitors can expect
The Poljud City Stadium is located at 8 Mediteranskih Igara 2 in Split and has 33,987 seats. It is recognisable for its curved roof structure and open views towards the surrounding part of the city. For European matches, the most important feature is not only the architecture, but also the way sound travels from the stands towards the pitch. When Hajduk attack towards the north, the pressure from the stand behind the goal becomes part of the rhythm of the match.
There were 22,352 spectators against Žilina in the first home match of the season. Pafos arrive with greater European experience and more familiar names, so even greater interest can be expected. It is advisable to secure tickets in good time.
Supporters arriving for the first time should bear in mind that the atmosphere builds long before kick-off. The area around the stadium fills with pedestrians, traffic slows down and the access routes become increasingly congested. The organiser has specifically recommended arriving early to avoid queues at the entrances. This is also important because tickets are checked individually, and children must also have their own ticket.
Pafos have organised travel for supporters from Cyprus to Split, so there will also be an away section at the stadium. Their number will not be comparable to the home support, but the visiting group gives the match an additional European setting and creates a different soundscape from that of ordinary league evenings.
Arrival, parking and entry into the stadium
The exact opening time of the entrances had not been announced in the available notice by 22 July. It is therefore most sensible to plan to arrive well before kick-off, particularly for visitors who need to find their section or are coming to Poljud for the first time.
- The stadium address is 8 Mediteranskih Igara 2, Split.
- Vehicle access immediately next to the stadium is permitted only for vehicles with special passes, so parking beside the venue itself should not be considered an available option.
- For arrival from central parts of Split, walking, public transport or a taxi are more practical, with additional time allowed because of congestion.
- The rule is one spectator - one ticket, and children must also have a ticket.
- Pyrotechnics, bottles, lighters and other hard objects that could endanger safety may not be brought into the stadium.
- Entrance for people with disabilities is provided on the southern plateau below the scoreboard, with the possibility of one accompanying person.
Visitors arriving by car should expect to walk from a more distant parking area. The biggest mistake would be to try to reach the stadium itself shortly before kick-off, because access restrictions and the large number of pedestrians can significantly slow the final part of the journey. For those staying in the city centre, walking is often easier than searching for a parking space in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing. On the day of the encounter, visitors should not rely on the possibility that seats will remain available, especially if interest continues to increase.
How to plan the evening in Split
Only essential items should be taken to the stadium. An identification document, a ticket in an accepted format and basic personal belongings make the security check easier. Evacuation stairways and passages must remain clear throughout the match, so spectators should take the seat indicated on their ticket.
The sporting part of the evening begins before the first whistle. It is worth watching the warm-up because it will provide the first answers about Hajduk's attacking line-up, Marko Livaja's role and Pafos's choice of goalkeeper. If Sá Pinto immediately includes the new signings, the visitors will probably seek greater physical stability. If Garcia retains the core of the team that started against Žilina, Hajduk will try to continue with the speed of Brajković, Šego and Dalisson.
The first match will not provide a final answer, but it can create clear pressure for the return leg. Hajduk want to travel to Cyprus with an advantage, while Pafos want to silence Poljud and preserve the balance of the tie. Precisely because of that clash of objectives, an intense opening, a more tactically cautious middle section of the match and a conclusion in which every substitution will carry weight should be expected.
Sources:
- HNK Hajduk Split - match schedule, reports from the tie against Žilina, ticket information, entry rules and data on Poljud's capacity.
- Pafos FC - current squad, Ricardo Sá Pinto's coaching staff, summer signings and organisation of the trip to Split.
- ESPN - statistical overview of Pafos and the club's goalscoring chart for the 2025/26 season.
- FotMob - information that Hajduk and Pafos FC had not played a match against each other before this tie.
- Split Tourist Board - context regarding Poljud Stadium and basic information for visitors to the city.