Hajduk Split vs Zilina prediction 09.07.2026 | Europa League qualifications

Tough years are behind Hajduk Split. In the Croatian league, they are regularly behind their biggest rival, Dinamo Zagreb. Also, Hajduk haven't appeared in the group stage of any European competition in the last 15 years. Last season, the Croatian club played in the Conference League qualifiers, but after beating Zira, they lost against Albanian Dinamo Tirana. 

Hajduk Split are entering the 2026/27 season with a lot of confidence, especially after an excellent preseason. They won all three friendly matches, including 1-0 against Celje in the final test. Also, it is worth noting that Hajduk didn't concede any goals in those three friendlies. 

A few important players from the last season left Hajduk. The most important departures seem to be those of Ante Rebic and Iker Almena, but it seems that Hajduk signed worthy replacements. The most important addition is probably that of Alec Van Hoorenbeeck from Twente. The Croatian team has also so far acquired Alberto del Moral (who came from Real Oviedo), Etnik Brruti (Malisheva), Mathieu Acapandie (Nantes), Luka Banovic (Whitecaps Academy), and Dalison de Almeida (Cordoba). 

Zilina are among the best Slovakian teams recently. Last season, they finished fourth in the domestic league, but the cup trophy was enough to secure Europa League qualification. Zilina have gone 15 years without the group phase of any continental competition. One season ago, the Slovak team lost 6-1 on aggregate to Polish Rakow in the Conference League qualifiers. 

Preseason often doesn't mean much, but it's pretty alarming that Zilina didn't win any of their four friendlies. In the most recent outing, they played 2-2 against Pardubice. Another worrying fact is that Zilina scored only three goals in those four games. 

Zilina haven't changed their squad much so far this summer. All important players remained in the club, while their only addition is goalkeeper David Sipos, who came from Kosice.