Livaja on the Bench Again, Šego Leads the Attack
Coach Gonzalo García has decided to shake up the starting lineup for the trip to Lithuania, where the Whites are chasing their first European away win in six years.
Coach Gonzalo García has decided to shake up the starting lineup for the trip to Lithuania, where the Whites are chasing their first European away win in six years.
Hajduk will face Lithuanian side Žalgiris in Vilnius tonight at 7 PM in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League. Coach Gonzalo García has announced the lineup for this clash, with the biggest surprise being that captain Marko Livaja will start the match on the bench.
Compared to the recent league defeat to Varaždin, García has made several changes. Michele Šego will lead the attack, moving from the wing after an unsuccessful stint in that position. Additionally, Marin Šotiček, who arrived on loan, makes his first start in the starting eleven for the Split-based club.
Dalisson returns to the starting lineup, while Alberto Del Moral drops out. There is also a change in the defensive line, Dario Marešić replaces young Roko Gabrić. Dario Melnjak remains on the bench this time. According to the announced lineups, Hajduk will play in a formation that García usually favors, with altered wingers.
Hajduk lineup: Silić - Acapandie, Marešić, van Hoorenbeeck, Hrgović - Pukštas, Pajaziti - Bamba, Dalisson, Šotiček - Šego.
Žalgiris will take the field with: Šarkauskas - Šešplaukis, Lupano, Bosančić, Franke - Lytvynenko, Kendysh - Golubickas, Bilenkyi, Teixeira - Petković.
The Whites are looking to end a very poor run in away European matches. Their last away victory came back in 2020, when they beat Renova 1-0. Since then, they have recorded eight losses and three draws, including this year's defeats to Žilina and Pafos.
After being eliminated from the Europa League last week, Hajduk continues their European journey in the Conference League. Žalgiris reached this stage after a real thriller, in the first leg of the second qualifying round, they lost 3-0 to Dinamo Tbilisi, only to win the return leg at home 7-2.
Midfielder Rokas Pukštas emphasized the importance of the approach from the very start. "We have to enter the match with a lot of energy from the first minute," Pukštas told Index.hr.
Coach García commented on the team's atmosphere after recent results. "In Hajduk, everyone is loud after a defeat," García told Index.hr.
Interestingly, Marko Capan, a former Hajduk player, also plays for Žalgiris. "Hajduk is, by tradition, the biggest club in Croatia," Capan told Index.hr ahead of the clash with his former club.
The referee for the match is Marc Nagtegaal from the Netherlands. The winner of this tie will face the better side from the matchup between Polish club Raków and Swedish side Hammarby in the final qualifying round.
