HNK Hajduk Split begin their SuperSport Cup journey with a match against fourth-tier side Vardarac in Baranja. The 1/16 final fixture kicks off at 16:30 at V Arena and will be broadcast on Max Sport 1 and HDTV on MAXtv.
The team travels to Baranja on the back of a strong start to the season. After six rounds of the Croatian First Football League, Hajduk sits top of the table with 13 points and a +10 goal difference (15 scored, 5 conceded). Their recent league form reads WWWWD, and their next league challenge is a home match against Slaven Belupo on September 12. Manager Ivan Garcia has opted to rotate his squad for the cup tie, despite their positive league momentum.
Ahead of the match against Vardarac, Garcia has made several significant changes to his usual starting eleven. Stipica will be in goal, with a defense consisting of Gabrić, Van Hoorenbeeck, Hadžikadunić, and Hodak. The midfield will feature Fayad, Šutalo, Melnjak, and Huram. The attacking pair is made up of Martin and captain Marko Livaja, who also starts. These alterations indicate Garcia's intention to give opportunities to other players while maintaining a core of experience on the pitch. Details on all squad members can be found on our squad page.
Vardarac is a club competing in the 3. NL Istok, the third division's eastern group. After three matches in their league competition, they are currently in third place. For them, this match against Hajduk is a major challenge and opportunity. Their starting lineup includes goalkeeper Kovačević, and players such as Gačić, Luiz Correa, Vogyicska, Kirchbauer, Lišnić, Vincek, Pejić, Horvat, Budiša, and Barišić. The referee will be Patrik Pavlešić from Duga Resa, assisted by Željko Bučar and Vinko Podrug. The fourth official is Filip Cindrić.
The Whites enter the cup competition with significant confidence following good results in Europe and domestically. They opened the season with a win against Raków in Poland and qualification for the Conference League. This was followed by convincing victories against Lokomotiva and Rudeš. Prior to that, Hajduk defeated Osijek in the league even with nine changes to the lineup. This run of form makes them favorites against any domestic opponent, including Vardarac. They currently share the top spot in the HNL with Dinamo, who have a game in hand. The overall league situation can be tracked on the standings page.
After the cup match, Hajduk's focus will quickly return to the league. As early as Wednesday, September 12, they face an important home match against Slaven Belupo, who are currently eighth in the table. This will be a chance to strengthen their position at the summit. The schedule for all upcoming matches, including those in the cup, is available on the fixtures page. The match against Vardarac kicks off at 16:30, with other 1/16 final cup matches scheduled for 16:30 and 17:30 on the same day, while the remaining matches in this round are played on September 15 and 16.
