Villarreal vs Hajduk Split Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 15/08/2022, 06:21  by Ioannis | Modified on 15/08/2022 at 06:22 in Conference League Prediction

Villarreal host Hajduk Split for the play-off round of the Conference League. Despite their impressive Champions League campaign last year, which saw them reach the semi-finals of the competition and eventually lose out to Liverpool, the Yellow Submarine will have to compromise with the Conference League this season, after finishing seventh in last year’s LaLiga. The hosts are in great form at the moment however, and after finishing their eight preseason friendlies unbeaten, they also kicked off the league in impressive form, sinking Valladolid 3-0 at the Estadio Jose Zorilla. While they are generally strong at the Ceramica, Villarreal have lost two of their last four games there, albeit against strong sides the likes of Sociedad and Liverpool. 

Hajduk Split enter this contest having beaten Guimaraes in the last round. The Croatian cup winners however did not prepare in the best possible way for this encounter, losing 4-1 in the derby against Dinamo Zagreb in a result that must have negatively impacted morale. It was also their first loss after winning their first two league games. Hajduk should be worried about their away form, as it was the factor that hampered their Croatian championship push last year as well as threatening to also doom their European qualification chances in the last round. The visitors have lost four of their last seven encounters but they have managed to keep clean sheets in three of their last five games on the road.