Raków given strong chance as Hajduk mood shifts

Raków Częstochowa appear to have a significant opportunity to progress from their Conference League qualifying tie with Hajduk Split after sentiment in Croatia shifted sharply following the first meeting between the sides.

Change in mood around Hajduk

Before the opening game in the third qualifying round of the Conference League, the expectation in Split was that Hajduk would go through. That confidence, however, has weakened.

Former Croatian footballer Ivan Udarević, who previously played in Poland, said the reaction after the first match was one of major disappointment. In his view, the picture around Hajduk has changed quickly, and belief in an easy passage is no longer there.

Udarević points to Hajduk problems

Udarević’s assessment is particularly stark. He believes Hajduk are dealing with serious issues and suggested the Croatian club have not looked this weak for many years.

That judgment helps explain why Raków are now being viewed as genuine favourites to take advantage. Rather than approaching the tie as outsiders against a bigger regional name, the Polish side now have what Udarević described as a very big chance of advancing.

Why Raków have reason to believe

The source material does not detail the specific tactical or structural problems affecting Hajduk, but the overall message is clear: the Croatian side are under pressure, and the mood around the club has deteriorated.

For Raków, that creates an opening in a high-stakes European tie. The key question now is what can decide success for the team led by Dawid Kroczek. With doubts growing on the Hajduk side, Raków’s task is to turn that uncertainty into a decisive edge over the two matches.

Conference League tie finely poised

Even with the changing atmosphere in Split, the tie remains one of the more intriguing match-ups in this stage of Conference League qualifying. Hajduk still carry expectation, but the confidence that surrounded them before the first game has clearly been damaged.

Raków, by contrast, have been handed encouragement from outside observers in Croatia. If Udarević’s reading of the situation is accurate, the Polish club are facing an opponent wrestling with disappointment and deeper concerns about its current level.

That is why this qualifier now feels less like a test of reputation and more like a real opportunity for Raków Częstochowa to push on in Europe.