Ajax faces the challenge of playing on a poor pitch at Poljud ahead of Thursday's visit to HNK Hajduk Split in the Conference League. Dutch outlet Ajax Showtime expressed concern about the condition of the turf after a severe storm hit Split during Saturday's derby against Dinamo.
The outlet stated that Ajax could be preparing for a match on an "almost unplayable pitch". Drainage problems were highlighted, leading to large amounts of water pooling on the field during the match which Hajduk won 2-1. "What the fans watched had nothing to do with football," the report reads.
Storm during the derby
Saturday's match was marked by weather that became particularly intense in the second half. The ball stopped in puddles, making passing and control difficult. Referee Igor Pajač even considered temporarily suspending the match, but the derby was played to its conclusion. Hajduk won thanks to goals from Scott McKenna's own goal and Abduli Sanjang Bamba in the 59th minute, while Dinamo's scorer was Dion Drena Beljo.
The pitch condition caused serious issues and similar conditions could pose a difficulty for Ajax as well. Thursday's match at 18:45 will be Hajduk's first appearance in the league phase of the Conference League this season. Poljud is already sold out, with Ajax's away fans purchasing all 1,675 tickets allocated to their sector.
Hajduk enters the European match with confidence after an important victory that returned them to the top of the SuperSport HNL table. Coach Gonzalo Garcia will have almost the entire squad at his disposal, aside from injured players.
On the other hand, Ajax arrives in Split after a 1:1 draw against NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie. It is not yet clear whether the Poljud pitch will recover sufficiently by kick-off to allow for quality football. Hajduk fans expect their favourites to continue their good form in Europe as well. Detailed team and player statistics are available on the stats page.
The match will be an important test for both teams in their quest for progression to the next stage of the competition. Hajduk will aim to utilise their home advantage, regardless of the conditions.
