When is Hajduk's return leg against Žalgiris?

The match takes place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Poljud.

What lead does Hajduk take into the return leg?

Hajduk won the first leg 5:2, giving them a significant advantage along with home turf.

When was the last time Hajduk played in the Conference League playoff?

The last time was in the 22/23 season, when they faced Villarreal, with Valdas Dambrauskas as coach.

How many spectators are expected at Poljud?

Between 20,000 and 25,000 are expected, meaning the stadium won't be completely full.

Football

Hajduk can reach the playoff today, a stage they haven't seen since Dambrauskas

A.P. · Prije 19h | 2 min

The Split side hosts Žalgiris at Poljud with a massive 5:2 lead from the first leg, and a place in the Conference League playoff would be their first since the 22/23 season and the clash with Villarreal.

Summary

Hajduk hosts Žalgiris on Thursday with a 5:2 lead from the first leg.
A place in the Conference League playoff would be their first since the 22/23 season and the clash with Villarreal.
Between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators are expected at Poljud.
Hajduk's average attendance this season is 23,537 per match.

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On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Hajduk welcomes Žalgiris to Poljud in the return leg of the Conference League playoff. The Whites enter the match with a commanding 5:2 lead from the first leg, a margin that, combined with home advantage, should secure their place in the playoff round-a stage they haven't reached since the 22/23 season.

The last time Hajduk featured in this phase of the competition, their opponents were Villarreal, and the team was managed by Valdas Dambrauskas. This time, the final hurdle would be a far more beatable opponent than the Spanish top-flight side.

Poljud expected to be well-filled, but not to the brim

Enthusiasm in Split remains palpable while Hajduk are alive in Europe, though it's not at the fever pitch it can sometimes reach. A sluggish start to the league season, with just one point from a possible six, is currently on the back burner as all focus is on European nights.

Against Istra at Poljud, attendance was just over 20,000-a figure that, as Sportske novosti note, would be remarkable for 85% of European clubs. But Hajduk have raised the bar when it comes to attendance, with an average crowd of 23,537 per match at Poljud this season.

For the clash with Žalgiris, between 20,000 and 25,000 fans are expected. Poljud, therefore, won't be packed to the rafters, but the atmosphere should still be solid-even brilliant.

Also awaiting the Hammarby-Rakow return leg

In Split, there's already talk about who would be the better potential opponent in the next round, as absolutely no one believes the Whites could suffer a collapse at home and crash out of the Conference League. Still, first things first-they must get past Žalgiris before thinking about the road ahead.

The gloomy start to the SHNL doesn't seem to have dampened the fans' spirits. Few are shocked, as everyone knew the new-look Hajduk would need time to gel, so there's no sign of the drama that has often surrounded Poljud in the past.