Hajduk Split nears Conference League playoff after dominant away win

Hajduk Split stands on the brink of reaching the final qualifying round of the Conference League, having secured a commanding 5-2 victory over Lithuania's Žalgiris in their away leg. This substantial lead means only a miraculous turnaround would prevent them from advancing.

The Croatian club, which began its European journey in the Europa League before dropping to the Conference League, is now setting its sights on the playoff round. Their potential opponents will be the winner of the tie between Sweden's Hammarby and Poland's Raków. This sets up an intriguing prospect for Hajduk, as they prepare for what could be a challenging final hurdle before the group stages.

Analyses suggest that both Hammarby and Raków are teams with valuations and perceived strengths closely aligned with Hajduk's. Hammarby is currently second in the Swedish league, while Raków finished fourth in Poland's highly competitive league last season. Raków boasts players familiar to the Croatian league, including Mahir Emreli, Fran Tudor, and Marko Bulat, adding another layer of intrigue to the potential matchup. The close financial valuations, with Hajduk at 34 million euros, Hammarby at 35 million, and Raków at 33 million, indicate that the playoff round is likely to be a tightly contested affair, with no clear favorite emerging on paper.