The 5:0 win over Žalgiris brought euphoria, but match analysis shows Gonzalo García must urgently address the defensive midfield position if he wants to advance past the Conference League playoff.
After 2,122 long days, Hajduk finally secured a win away from home in European competition. Five goals past Lithuanian side Žalgiris in Vilnius has practically already secured progression to the Conference League playoff, where the Split side will face the winner of the tie between Poland's Raków and Sweden's Hammarby. The return leg at Poljud should be a formality, and the season's outlook has dramatically shifted.
The past week brought nerves and a familiar sense of crisis. Hajduk first squandered a 2:0 lead against Pafos, then delivered a traditionally poor performance in Varaždin, entering the league season with a defeat. It was hard to imagine that Gonzalo García's side would look so dominant in Lithuania.
García had a clear plan. He spread his center-backs almost to the touchlines, while dropping Adrion Pajaziti into the zone in front of them. Žalgiris, accustomed to directing their press toward the sideline and trapping opponents there, suddenly had to cover a significantly larger area. The distances became too great, and the hosts couldn't impose their game.
The key figure in midfield was Rokas Pukštas. Although nominally playing as part of a double pivot, he pushed high into the left half-space in possession. He occupied one of Žalgiris's midfielders and constantly attacked the depth, forcing the home side's right-back to tuck inside. This left Marin Šotiček on the left wing with numerous one-on-one situations. Šotiček's dribbling won both penalties, set up Pajaziti's goal from a short corner, and completely transformed the team's attacking dynamics.
Despite the high scoreline, the match exposed a structural deficiency that could prove fatal against more serious opposition. Pajaziti and Pukštas played well, scored goals, and contributed to chance creation, but their profile is not that of a classic defensive midfielder.
Pajaziti is a midfielder who gravitates toward forward play. At the start of last season, he recorded an impressive 10.2 progressive passes and 7.6 progressive carries per 90 minutes-numbers higher than even Vitinha's. Pukštas, on the other hand, attacks space without the ball, seeks duels, and has an excellent arrival into the box. Both are vertical players prone to risky decisions, which is not desirable in a position that demands discipline and control of the space in front of the defense.
Žalgiris, despite the loss, managed 11 shots and reached Hajduk's penalty area with ease on several occasions. Against Pafos, who knew how to punish exactly that area, it was already evident how much they miss a player who can recognize danger before it becomes obvious, protect the zone, and remain disciplined while the rest of the team pushes forward.
Hajduk opened the door to the playoff in Lithuania. If they want to walk through it, against Raków or Hammarby, they will need a true defensive midfielder, not just a midfielder who can stand in that position. The question is who that could be. Niko Sigur didn't go through preseason and seems mentally out of the club. Alberto del Moral, even after a month, isn't ready for a full 90 minutes. Mihael Žaper has been written off again.
The perspective has changed, and Hajduk now has two weeks to solve this problem. The success of the entire season could hinge on whether García can find a solution for a position that has been the team's sore spot for years. Just as the arrival of a natural winger like Šotiček transformed the left side, so too could a proper defensive midfielder be the factor that decides whether Hajduk plays in the Conference League group stage this season.
