The quest for advancement in the 2026-27 Conference League knockout rounds kicks off on Thursday as Hajduk Split welcomes Ajax to Stadion Poljud. Hajduk Split earned their spot in the group stages with a thrilling extra-time win over Rakow, while Ajax secured their entry by decisively defeating Sion. Ajax, a familiar face in European competitions for the past nine seasons, is making their debut in the Conference League this year after finishing fifth in the Eredivisie last season. In the qualifying rounds, Ajax triumphed over Vojvodina and Shelbourne before facing Sion in the playoffs, where they achieved a 9-5 aggregate victory, winning both matches and continuing a strong run that saw them win five out of six matches across all competitions. However, their recent form has been hindered by back-to-back draws against SBV Excelsior and NEC Nijmegen, which they will look to overcome as they head to Split for their Conference League opener, aiming to regain their winning momentum. This encounter marks the third clash between the two teams and the first since the 1994-95 Champions League, where Ajax triumphed 3-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, leading them to their fourth and latest European title. Ajax has remained unbeaten in their last six competitive away games this season (W5, D1), consistently scoring at least two goals in each match. Nonetheless, they need to shore up their defense, as they have not kept a clean sheet in their last five outings. Hajduk Split is returning to the group stages of a major European tournament for the first time in nearly 16 years, eager to overcome the disappointments of their 2010-11 Europa League campaign, which saw them exit early with five losses in six matches. Despite facing challenges, including conceding late goals in both legs of their playoff against Rakow, Gonzalo Garcia’s squad ultimately managed to secure qualification.