Žalgiris to face Hajduk Split in Europa Conference League qualifiers

Žalgiris Vilnius has secured a challenging next opponent in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers: Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split. The Lithuanian champions advanced after an astonishing 7-2 comeback win at home against Georgia's Dinamo Tbilisi. Despite a 0-3 loss in the first leg, Žalgiris rallied to win the tie 7-5 on aggregate, thrilling their home crowd.

Hajduk Split enters the tie after being eliminated from the Europa League qualifiers by Cyprus's Pafos. The Croatian club lost the first leg 2-0 but suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat in the return match. This sets up a clash between two teams with contrasting recent European fortunes.

The first leg between Žalgiris and Hajduk will take place in Vilnius on August 6, with the return fixture scheduled for August 13 in Split. Hajduk Split has been a consistent force in Croatian football, finishing in the top three for the past three seasons, including two second-place finishes and one third-place finish. However, they have not won the Croatian league title since 2005.

Financially, Hajduk Split presents a significant challenge for Žalgiris. While Žalgiris operates with an annual budget of approximately 5 million euros, Hajduk Split's revenue neared 50 million euros in the last financial year. The Split club also features Lithuanian player Rokas Pukštas in its squad, adding a familiar element for the Vilnius club.