FK Zalgiris Vilnius have flown out of the blocks in early-season qualifying, with all four of their matches producing at least three goals and both teams scoring in three of them. Playing at home, they have been especially rampant, averaging 4.5 goals per game across their two…
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Sign inFK Zalgiris Vilnius host HNK Hajduk Split in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round on 6 August 2026, with the tie scheduled at their S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas home in Kaunas. Both clubs arrive after extraordinary aggregate swings in their previous European qualifiers, setting the stage for a fascinating contest.
Hajduk Split will be without defender Roko Brajković, the only player listed on the injury report ahead of the trip to Lithuania. The Croatian side will otherwise have a full squad to choose from, including top scorer Michele Šego (13 goals in 32 appearances last season) and key midfielders Rokas Pukštas and Niko Kristian Sigur. Centre-back Zvonimir Šarlija and creative midfielder Adrion Pajaziti are also expected to start.
For Žalgiris Vilnius, no fresh injury concerns have been reported. The Lithuanian side’s squad has shown remarkable depth in recent qualifiers, with multiple scorers contributing to their 7-2 home demolition of Dinamo Tbilisi last week.
Žalgiris Vilnius arrive on the back of one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Conference League history. After losing the first leg 3-0 away to Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia on 23 July, they produced a stunning 7-2 victory at this same stadium a week later to win the tie 7-5 on aggregate. That result came after they navigated the first qualifying round with a 3-1 away win and a 2-1 home success against Moldovan opposition, progressing 5-2 on aggregate. The home form in Kaunas has been explosive, with nine goals in two European matches this summer.
Hajduk Split’s European journey took a painful turn in the previous round. Having beaten Pafos 2-0 at home on 23 July, the Croatian side looked in control of their Europa League second qualifying round tie – only to collapse to a 4-0 defeat in Cyprus on 30 July, crashing out 4-2 on aggregate and dropping into the Conference League. In the opening round, Hajduk edged past Žilina 2-0 at home before a 2-1 away defeat saw them through 3-2 on aggregate. Domestically, Hajduk finished second in the 2025/26 HNL with 68 points, underlining their pedigree.
Žalgiris have suddenly become one of the most dangerous home sides in the qualifiers, scoring seven in a single tie. Their confidence will be sky-high, but Hajduk’s task is to rediscover the defensive solidity that earned them seven clean sheets across last season’s league campaign. The duel between Žalgiris’ quick ball circulation and Hajduk’s experienced midfield pairing of Pukštas and Sigur could decide whether the hosts can build another significant first-leg advantage.
A place in the Conference League play-off round awaits the aggregate winner, with the return leg in Split offering Hajduk the chance to lean on their famous Poljud atmosphere – but only if they leave Kaunas with a manageable deficit.
FK Zalgiris Vilnius
Coach: Andrius Skerla
HNK Hajduk Split
Coach: Gonzalo Garcia
