First leg score: Hajduk Split 3-1 Vitória de Guimarães
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Match preview
Following a shock victory in the first leg at home, can Hajduk Split complete the upset in Northern Portugal?
Six nights ago, haha was stunned silent when Miguel Maga opened the scoring for Vitória de Guimarães.
However, the 32,000 in attendance were on the feet just moments later when Emir Sahiti equalised.
Dario Melnjak then fired Hajduk in front before, with just two minutes remaining, Filip Krovinović secured a statement victory.
So, can Valdas Dambrauskas’ side hold onto this victory in the second leg?
Subsequently, they’ve fallen in the play-off round on four occasions, most recently beaten by Everton in 2017.
Since then though, Hajduk have only won two of six qualification ties, falling at the first hurdle against Tobol 12 months ago.
Thus, Vitória de Guimarães were very much favourites to process when the draw was made.
The Portuguese outfit featured in the Europa League group phase in 2017 and 2019, winning a trio of qualifiers to reach the latter.
This time round, Pepa’s side hammered Puskás Akadémia in the previous round, but massively came unstuck in Croatia.
Despite the deficit, Vitória will believe a comeback is possible at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.
The reward for the winner of this tie is a Europa Conference League play-off date with last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal.
