Hajduk Split beats Pafos to reach Europa League third‑qualifying round

Hajduk Split defeated Cyprus side Pafos FC 2‑0 in the first leg of the Europa League second‑qualifying round at Poljud. The Croatian side will travel to Cyprus for the return match. Should Hajduk advance, UEFA has reordered the hosting of the third‑qualifying round because the UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa will be played on 12 August in Salzburg. As a result, Hajduk’s first leg against Red Bull Salzburg will be played away in Austria on 6 August, with the second leg scheduled at Poljud a week later. If Hajduk fail to overturn the tie on Cyprus, they will move to the Conference League third‑qualifying round and face the winner of the Žalgiris–Dinamo Tbilisi clash. Key player Roko Brajković sustained an injury that will keep him out of the second leg, a further blow for the team.