After the defeat in Varaždin and a convincing European victory, the Whites are under an imperative to triumph. Istra 1961 arrives with a rejuvenated squad and no pressure, ready to punish any defensive error.
Hajduk and Istra 1961 will close out the truncated second round of the SuperSport HNL on Sunday at 9 PM at Poljud. The derby between Rijeka and Dinamo has been postponed, so all attention is focused on the Split pitch, where both teams will be chasing their first league points of the new season.
Coach Gonzalo Garcia's team has shown two completely different faces at the start of the season. In the league, they received a cold shower with a 2-1 defeat in Varaždin, where early conceded goals exposed defensive weaknesses. On the other hand, the European stage brought a complete turnaround - a convincing 5-2 win against Žalgiris in the third qualifying round of the Conference League restored confidence. It was the third consecutive away match for the Whites, who returned to Split on Friday, and now the key question is whether Hajduk can transfer that energy to the domestic league. Garcia admitted how much the demanding pace has affected the team: "Our biggest problem was that we had a lot of away games in a row and travels that exhausted us. I was tired, and I only travel with them, I don't train or play. That destroyed us. It sucks when you have 72 hours between matches and you spend 20 hours on the road. Now everything is fine, the players are good and they have physically recovered."
The last five matches paint a mixed picture of form: two wins (5-2 against Žalgiris and 2-0 against Pafos) and three losses (1-2 to Varaždin and Žilina, and 0-4 to Pafos). However, the head-to-head record against Istra since 2009 is a strong asset. In 62 matches played, Hajduk has won 36 times, while the Pula side has won on 13 occasions. The last encounter also went in favor of the Whites with a score of 3-1.
Istra 1961, under new coach Javier Cabello, entered the season with a significantly rejuvenated squad after the departure of key players. The 3-2 loss to Lokomotiva in the first round did not discourage them. Two goals scored showed they possess attacking quality, although three goals conceded highlighted defensive vulnerability - a problem they share with Sunday's hosts.
Istra's form in the last six matches looks more stable: three wins (5-2 against Orijent, 2-1 against MK Dons, and 3-0 against Opatija), two draws (both 2-2 with Lecce and UTA), and one loss (2-3 to Lokomotiva). Interestingly, the average player rating for Istra in the first round (6.80) was slightly higher than that of Hajduk's players (6.68), suggesting their performance was not poor despite the defeat.
Coach Garcia faces a problem in attack. Young Roko Brajković will miss the entire season due to a cruciate ligament injury, opening space for other options up front. Marko Livaja is expected to return to the starting lineup, having only started once this season against Varaždin, where he missed a penalty in the 90th minute for an equalizer. Additionally, Šego should take Bamba's place on the right wing. In defense, a change is almost certain: Van Hoorenbeeck, who came off against Žalgiris as a precaution due to discomfort in his hamstring, will be replaced by Raci. Garcia explained: "We took Alec off as a precaution, but everything is fine. He's not injured, he just felt some discomfort. He thought he could continue, but it didn't make sense to me to leave him on the pitch for another 20 minutes. I know the players are tired, we had a tough week, so I didn't want to risk more."
Hajduk's possible lineup includes Silić in goal, a defense with Acapandié, Marešić, Van Hoorenbeeck, and Hrgović, a midfield with Pukštas and Pajaziti, and an attacking line of Bamba, Dalisson, Šotiček, and Šego. On the other side, Istra could play with: Kolić - Hrvatin, Nasraoui, Miettinen, Šepić - Kablar, Albarracín - Škafar Žužić, Šaranić, Frederiksen - Jaganjac. Both coaches, Garcia and Cabello, have never faced each other in official matches, so their tactical duel will be an additional point of interest for the evening. Garcia particularly praised Marin Šotiček and Anđelo Šutalo for their performances against Žalgiris.
Hajduk is traditionally a magnet for crowds, and the club has already started selling tickets, giving priority to active members, especially for the north stand. Support from the stands should be a key wind at their backs. Bookmakers clearly see the hosts as heavy favorites, estimating the probability of a Whites victory at around 72 percent.
However, Istra arrives at Poljud without any pressure, aware they have nothing to lose. It is precisely such teams that often prove to be the most unpleasant opponents, especially if the home defense repeats the mistakes from Varaždin. Sunday's clash offers a chance for redemption and a move to the top of the table, but also an opportunity for the young Pula side to show that their project has a future.
Ahead of the match, reports emerged about a possible arrival of Lindon Selahi, a 27-year-old Albanian defensive midfielder, to the Whites. Selahi currently plays for Polish club Widzew Łódź, with a contract until 2028, and his agent Adrian Aliaj mentioned the option of a loan to Poljud. However, Garcia denied concrete contacts: "I know Lindon because he played under me at Twente and we talked about options at the start of the transfer window, but as far as I know, the club is not in contact with him. We certainly need a player with those characteristics. The market is open and we are working on reinforcements." Selahi, who was at Rijeka from 2021 until last year, made 153 appearances with nine goals and four assists, winning the double crown, and worked with Garcia at Twente from 2019 to 2021.
