Žilina's Tactical Comeback in UEFA Europa League

Žilina’s 2-1 comeback at Štadión pod Dubňom was shaped almost entirely by structure and in‑game adjustments rather than by any clear statistical dominance, as most numerical metrics are absent. With both sides finishing on two yellow cards each and no red cards, the tactical story is one of how Pavol Stano’s 3-4-3 gradually solved Gonzalo Garcia’s compact 4-2-3-1, turning a 0-1 half-time deficit into a narrow but deserved first-leg advantage in the UEFA Europa League 1st Qualifying Round.

First Half

Garcia set HNK Hajduk Split up in a textbook 4-2-3-1 built on defensive stability. The back four of Šimun Hrgović, M. Skelin, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck and D. Melnjak sat relatively deep, with the double pivot of R. Pukstas and A. Pajaziti tasked with screening central zones and denying Žilina access between the lines. Ahead of them, R. Brajkovic, N. Skoko and D. Melnjak (stepping higher from left-back in possession) supported lone forward M. Sego. This shape aimed to compress the central corridor, force Žilina wide and then defend crosses with the aerial presence of Van Hoorenbeeck and Skelin.

In the first half, that plan largely worked. Žilina’s 3-4-3 – with J. Badzgon behind a back three of T. Paliscak, J. Minarik and A. Narimanidze, a midfield box built around T. Hranica, Xavier Adang, M. Kacer and K. Bari, and a front trio of F. Kosa, M. Roginic and P. Ilko – struggled initially to find vertical connections. HNK Hajduk Split’s early yellow cards at 21' for Šimun Hrgović (Foul) and at 30' for Alec Van Hoorenbeeck (Foul) reflected an aggressive, front-foot defensive approach: stepping hard into duels to break Žilina’s rhythm before the wing-backs could advance.

The away side’s reward came from that same defensive platform. At 45', Alec Van Hoorenbeeck scored for HNK Hajduk Split, assisted by S. Hrgovic, giving the visitors a 0-1 lead. The fact that VAR confirmed the goal at 45+3' underlined how fine the margins were in the box, but also how effectively HNK Hajduk Split exploited set phases and second balls against a three-man Žilina back line that was still adjusting to the tempo.

Second Half

Stano’s key tactical shift came immediately after the break. At 46', M. Okal (IN) came on for T. Paliscak (OUT), a like-for-like defensive change on paper but one that subtly altered the dynamics of the right side. Okal provided more assured progression and slightly more width from the right of the back three, allowing the wing-backs and wide forwards to hold higher positions. That structural tweak set the stage for Žilina’s resurgence.

At 52', M. Roginic equalised for Žilina, assisted by F. Kosa, for 1-1. The goal, confirmed by VAR at 54', was emblematic of Žilina’s improved occupation of the half-spaces: Kosa’s involvement from the flank and Roginic’s central presence between HNK Hajduk Split’s centre-backs and pivot exposed the limitations of the visitors’ 4-2-3-1 once their first pressing line was bypassed. From that moment, HNK Hajduk Split’s midfield had to turn and run more often, which progressively stretched their compact block.

Stano then moved decisively to tilt the midfield battle. At 66', F. Bzdyl (IN) replaced M. Kacer (OUT), and M. Fasko (IN) came on for F. Kosa (OUT). These two simultaneous substitutions re-energised the wide and central channels. Bzdyl offered more vertical running and late arrivals, while Fasko provided a different profile in the front line, attacking depth more aggressively and forcing HNK Hajduk Split’s defence to retreat. Although we lack shot and possession data, the pattern of substitutions and subsequent fouls suggests Žilina began to pin the visitors deeper.

The disciplinary sequence supports that reading. At 67', Xavier Adang received a yellow card for Žilina for Persistent fouling – a sign of how he was increasingly involved in counter-pressing and breaking up transitions as Žilina committed more men forward. Later, at 90+2', Andrei Florea was booked for Žilina (Foul), another indicator of high-intensity challenges in advanced areas as the hosts protected their late advantage.

Personnel management was equally important for HNK Hajduk Split. At 64', D. de Almeida (IN) came on for N. Skoko (OUT), a move that freshened the attacking midfield line and attempted to restore control between Žilina’s midfield and defence. On 75', A. Sanyang (IN) replaced S. Hrgovic (OUT) and A. Guram (IN) came on for R. Brajkovic (OUT), effectively rotating both flanks and trying to regain energy in wide pressing and transition defence. Finally, at 84', M. Livaja (IN) replaced M. Sego (OUT), shifting the attacking reference point to a more technically oriented forward capable of dropping between the lines. These changes, however, did not translate into a second away goal.

Stano, by contrast, doubled down on control and fresh legs in the middle and front third. At 72', S. Datko (IN) replaced P. Ilko (OUT), giving Žilina more mobility and pressing from the forward line. At 82', A. Florea (IN) came on for X. Adang (OUT), swapping a yellow-carded holding midfielder for a fresher presence with licence to engage aggressively without suspension risk – a decision that later produced Florea’s own yellow card but also allowed Žilina to maintain high intensity in central zones.

The decisive late moment came at 90', when an own goal by D. Melnjak, credited to Žilina, made it 2-1 to the home side. Tactically, this reflected the cumulative pressure Žilina had built on HNK Hajduk Split’s back line: sustained occupation of the box, repeated deliveries, and a defensive unit forced to defend facing its own goal. Even without explicit shot or possession numbers, the pattern of substitutions, VAR confirmations, and late defensive error strongly implies Žilina were the more assertive side in the second half.

Statistically, the only hard numbers available are disciplinary: Žilina finished with two yellow cards (Xavier Adang for Persistent fouling, Andrei Florea for Foul), HNK Hajduk Split with two (Šimun Hrgovič for Foul, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck for Foul), and no red cards were shown. With no data on shots, possession, passing or expected goals, we cannot quantify Žilina’s turnaround, but the structural evolution is clear. Garcia’s 4-2-3-1 initially controlled central spaces and struck first through Van Hoorenbeeck, yet Stano’s progressive adjustments – especially the refreshed wide and central roles after 46' and 66' – gradually dismantled that control. The result is a 2-1 scoreline that reflects Žilina’s superior adaptability and second-half territorial pressure rather than any visible statistical imbalance.