- 1 Rakow vs Hajduk Split: a tie blown wide open by a stoppage-time goal
- 2 Rakow did the job at Poljud and now get their chance at home
- 3 Hajduk Split bring the sharper attack into the tie
- 4 Conference League prediction Rakow vs Hajduk Split
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information can change
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling comes first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Rakow vs Hajduk Split: a tie blown wide open by a stoppage-time goal 
Rakow Czestochowa host Hajduk Split on Thursday August 27 at 19:00 local time for the second leg of their Conference League playoff. The two sides drew 2-2 at Poljud on August 20.
That result had a sting in the tail, with Rakow snatching an equaliser in the 90th+5 minute. Hajduk thought they had done enough for a valuable win before slipping at the very end.
The Croatian side had gone into the first leg as favourites on home turf. Their recent results and attacking output backed that up.
Hajduk had scored fourteen goals across their previous five matches, compared with seven for Rakow over the same spell. The gap in firepower was clear before kick-off.
That 2-2 draw changes the picture completely, though, with Rakow bringing back two away goals. The Poles now return home with a real shot at going through.
The final place on offer opens the door to the league phase of the Conference League. For two clubs of this size, the financial and sporting stakes are much bigger than a routine qualifying round.
The first leg also suggests both defences can be got at. That matters a lot when reading this return fixture.
There is extra context for Hajduk too, having dropped into the Conference League after their Europa League exit. The Croatian club had fallen to Pafos despite winning the first leg 2-0.
Rakow, by contrast, have taken a straight line through this competition since the second qualifying round. That consistency could help them in a one-off knockout tie.
Rakow did the job at Poljud and now get their chance at home 
Rakow pulled off a major result by taking a 2-2 draw back from Split. Scoring twice in such a fierce atmosphere was not the most likely script.
The Polish club are still the less prolific side, with seven goals in their last five matches. That economy of effort has not stopped them from getting through the rounds.
Mahir Emreli fits that profile neatly, with one goal, one assist and ten shots across five games. He remains the main attacking outlet, even if the numbers need to improve.
Rakow’s European run shows how well they handle tight games, as seen in the third qualifying round against Hammarby. A 0-0 at home and a 1-0 win in Sweden was enough.
Before that, the Poles had swept aside Valletta by a 7-1 aggregate score. This is a side that can switch between caution and dominance depending on the opponent.
Their stoppage-time equaliser at Poljud also says plenty about the squad’s mentality. That ability to keep going until the end could be vital on Thursday night.
The crowd in Czestochowa is another plus in a night like this. Rakow often find an extra gear at home that they simply do not have on the road.
The real task for the Poles will be to keep the Croatian attacks at bay for long enough. If they can stay organised for the first hour, the pressure starts to shift.
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Hajduk Split bring the sharper attack into the tie 
Fourteen goals in five matches: that number sums up Hajduk’s attacking punch before this two-legged battle. The Croatian club arrive with a side that is clicking in front of goal.
Rokas Pukstas has stood out with three goals and one assist across that same five-game spell. His work in the box has made the difference over the past few weeks.
The third qualifying round already underlined that firepower. Hajduk beat Zalgiris 9-2 on aggregate, including a no-nonsense 4-0 win in the second leg.
The downside is the defensive wobble, shown by the goal conceded in the 90th+5 minute at Poljud. Shipping one at that stage points to a collective lapse in concentration.
Hajduk also have to handle the trip to Poland, where Rakow will be backed heavily. Czestochowa is a very different stage from the comfort of Poljud.
Even so, the Croatian side still have the better attack on paper, and that remains their key edge. An away goal would instantly force Rakow to score twice.
The trip to Poland also comes in the middle of a packed summer schedule for the club. Fresh legs could end up deciding things late on.
Hajduk do at least know they have already scored twice against this Polish defence. Match that output away from home and they will be in a strong position.
Probable Rakow Czestochowa line-up: Not available at time of publication.
Probable Hajduk Split line-up: Not available at time of publication.
Conference League prediction Rakow vs Hajduk Split
Our prediction: Over 2.5 goals
The first leg already produced four goals at Poljud, with both defences failing to protect what little control they had. There is little reason to expect those flaws to disappear in Poland.
Hajduk have scored 14 times in their last five matches and still have a dangerous Rokas Pukstas in form. Rakow, meanwhile, have already shown they can score twice away to this same opponent.
A tie decided over one match pushes both teams into taking risks. The bet on over 2.5 goals, priced around 1.85, is the one to back.
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