Hajduk optimistic as Pafos shows significant decline from Champions League form

Hajduk Split enters a more serious European challenge as they face Pafos in the Europa League qualifiers. The Cypriot team, once a formidable opponent in the Champions League, appears to be in a significant decline. Last season, Pafos surprised many by securing nine points in the Champions League group stage, achieving victories against Villarreal and Slavia Prague, and drawing with Monaco, Olympiacos, and Kairat. They narrowly missed advancing to the knockout phase, finishing 26th overall with nine points.

However, their European success seemed to come at the cost of their domestic performance. Pafos, the 2024/2025 league champions, finished fourth in their domestic league last season, a staggering 25 points behind the eventual champions Omonia. This dip in form is partly attributed to instability within the club. Since January, Pafos has gone through four different coaches, with the current manager, Ricardo Sá Pinto, having only managed six competitive matches.

Despite the coaching changes and squad turnover, Pafos's playing style remains identifiable, relying heavily on the speed of their Brazilian attackers like Biel, Jaja, and Lele. In defense, the experienced 39-year-old David Luiz remains a key figure. Hajduk will need to be wary of Pafos's attacking potential, especially if they are given space to exploit their speed.