Hajduk secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Cypriot side Pafos in the first leg at Poljud Stadium. The return fixture is scheduled to take place in Cyprus, where the tie will be decided. The coaching staff have analysed the challenges the squad faces in the second leg.
Vladimir Balić, who previously worked as a goalkeeping coach at Cypriot club AEL Limassol, brings valuable knowledge of the local football environment. According to him, he is familiar with the Cypriot mindset and the way local clubs operate. Balić believes that the Cypriot league as a whole is superior to the Croatian one, a fact supported by the data showing that there are significantly more stadiums in that region compared to the domestic league.
Although Pafos are considered a strong opponent, Balić noted that the visitors were out of sync during the match at Poljud. The coach is confident that it was beneficial for the Split-based club to face this Cypriot side at this stage of the competition. Indeed, he believes that Pafos would have been a far more dangerous opponent had the meeting taken place later in the season.
The transfer policy of Pafos is clear and structured, which is another element Hajduk must take into account. In the context of preparations for the return leg, the quick reaction of players such as Šunjić was highlighted, who arrived on the day of the trip and stepped off the plane directly into the next one, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and dedication to the team.
