Villarreal advanced to the group stage of the Conference League this Thursday after a composed display that sealed a 6-2 aggregate victory over Hajduk Split and confirmed their dominance in the tie. The second leg, played on home soil, carried a clear sense of inevitability as the Spanish side stretched their lead and moved confidently toward the final stages of the competition. Hajduk Split, for their part, fought to stay alive in the tie but were overmatched in the crucial moments, with Villarreal’s defense effectively holding the line and their attackers finding opportunities to hurt the Croatian side at key moments.
Across the two legs, Villarreal established control early on and did not let up. The home side opened the scoring on the night and, with that early advantage, began to dictate the tempo. A moment that crystallized the visitors’ weakness came when a miscommunication in the Hajduk defense allowed Álex Baena to drive forward and provide the assist that opened the scoring for Villarreal. His pass found the run of Parejo, who laid the ball across for a finish that lined the pocket for a calm finish under pressure. Hajduk responded in quick fashion, but their equalizer eluded them as Villarreal’s defense closed ranks and denied the Croatian side any sustained momentum.
The first half saw Hajduk press with energy, attempting to leverage quick transitions and set pieces to pry a goal that might turn the tie in their favor. Livaja, the experienced forward, carried the onus for Hajduk’s attacking efforts. He produced the visitors’ brightest moments in the opening period, testing the Villarreal back line with runs and attempts that required sharp reflexes from the home goalkeeper and a stubborn wall of defenders. Yet the decisive moments belonged to Villarreal, who controlled the rhythm and showed the better finishing in the final third.
In the aftermath of the interval, Villarreal’s counterpressure remained a constant threat. A second goal delivered by Chukwueze, with the cooperation of Kalinic who hesitated on a mid-shot attempt, arrived in the 56th minute and effectively put the tie beyond Hajduk’s reach. The finish underscored Villarreal’s efficiency when moving the ball quickly through midfield and exploiting the spaces that Hajduk left behind during transitional phases. The celebration that followed reflected the certainty of the result and Villarreal’s readiness to advance to the group stage.
The remainder of the match unfolded with Villarreal securing a comfortable cushion and Hajduk pressing to avoid further damage. The Spanish side demonstrated solidity at the back and discipline in midfield—qualities that allowed them to manage the pace and preserve the lead as the contest wore on. The late stages showed Villarreal finishing with intent, while Hajduk continued to chase a lifeline that proved out of reach on the night.
Data sheet:
0 – Hajduk Split: Kalinic, Mikanovic (Lovrencsics, m.60), Awaziem, Elez (Simic, m.80), Melnjak (Colina, m.80), Fossati (Vukovic, m.66), Grgic, Sahiti (Mlakar, m.60), Krovinovic, Biuk and Livaja.
2 – Villarreal: Reina, Kiko Femenía (Foyth, m.80), Mandi, Cuenca, Pedraza (Pau Torres, m.80), Chukwueze, Coquelin (Capoue, m.45), Parejo, Álex Baena, Jackson (Morales, m.58) and Lo Celso (Gerard Moreno, art.59).
Goals: 0-1, art.37: Pedraza. 0-2, art.56: Chukwueze.
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LET). He cautioned Mikanovic and visitors Coquelin, Gerard Moreno and Cuenca.
Events: The second leg of the final round before the Conference League group stage was staged at the Poljud stadium in Split (Croatia) in front of approximately 33,000 spectators. The closely fought tie showcased Villarreal’s consistency and Hajduk’s occasional bursts of resolve, with the Spaniards clearly asserting their status as the stronger side over the two legs.