Preview: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. Hajduk Split - prediction, team news, lineups

The Portuguese side have it all to do to turn the tie around after losing 3-1 in Croatia last week.

Match preview

Having led 1-0 after the hour mark through Miguel Maga's 61st-minute opener, Guimaraes boss Moreno would have been deeply disappointed with his side's late collapse, which saw them concede three goals in the space of 20 minutes in Split.

The 40-year-old, who was promoted from his role as manager of Guimaraes's B-team after his predecessor Pepa departed for Saudi Arabia-based side Al-Tai, will be determined for his defence to keep things much tighter in the early stages on Wednesday.

Despite kicking-off their league campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Chaves on Sunday, Moreno may also be concerned regarding a lack of discipline among his group of players, with substitutes Alfa Semedo and Matheus Indio both seeing red after seven of Guimaraes's starting XI had already been shown a yellow card during the match.

Clearly, they must keep much cooler heads if they are to avoid being dumped out of Europe's third continental competition at the qualifying stage.

Indeed, Hajduk Split showed remarkable resilience to bounce back from one goal behind to put themselves firmly in the driving seat in this tie.

Stikes from Emir Sahiti, Dario Melnjak and former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Filip Krovinovic during a crazy 20-minute period proved enough for Valdas Dambrauskas's side to claim an impressive victory.

They should be fresher than their forthcoming opponents on Wednesday, too, after their scheduled league fixture against HNK Gorica at the weekend was postponed.

Dambrauskas will be urging his players to use both the break and their hard-earned lead to their advantage, potentially frustrating their hot-headed opponents in the process, even if Guimaraes are likely to prove a much tougher proposition away from home.

Vitoria de Guimaraes Europa Conference League form:

Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions):

Hajduk Split Europa Conference League form:

Hajduk Split form (all competitions):

Team News

Guimaraes will be without Tomas Handel as the midfielder continues to miss out with a muscle strain.

Moreno made four changes for the weekend's win away to Chaves, and he may stick with the side which earned an impressive win albeit in a scrappy manner.

Hajduk Split, meanwhile, do not appear to have any injury or suspension concerns, so will travel with a full squad.

With six days between the first leg victory and the forthcoming trip to Portugal, it seems unlikely Dambrauskas will make any changes to a side which carried out an exceptional comeback.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Maga, Amaro, Villanueva, Sa; Almeida, Bamba, T Silva; Lameiras, A Silva, J Silva

Hajduk Split possible starting lineup:

Kalinic; Mikanovic, Simic, Elez, Melnjak; Grgic, Vukovic; Sahiti, Krovinovic, Biuk; Livaja

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-2 Hajduk Split

With Guimaraes needing to chase a two-goal deficit, we can envisage an open encounter in Portugal on Wednesday.

It would be no surprise to see the hosts claw a goal back, with Hajduk Split potentially having to hold their nerve before effectively ending the tie late in the match.

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