Greeks need a comeback in Brussels: prediction for Anderlecht vs PAOK
The second leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round between Anderlecht and PAOK will take place on August 13, 2026, in Brussels. The Belgian club clinched a 1-0 away win in Thessaloniki and now stand just one step away from the playoff round, where the winner of this tie will face either Kairat or Levski.
Anderlecht: early goal gave a crucial advantage
Vítor Bruno's team got off to a perfect start in the first leg: Mihajlo Cvetković found the net in the opening minute, and the Belgians managed to hold on to their slender lead. Anderlecht also overcame Hammarby in the previous round and extended their winning streak in the league, beating La Louvière thanks to an Adriano Bertaccini goal in stoppage time.
Cvetković remains one of the hosts' main attacking weapons and has already scored in both of Anderlecht's European qualifiers this season. However, Illai Camara and Lucas Hey are sidelined through injury, while the availability of Killian Sardella and Mario Stroeykens is still in doubt.
PAOK: dominance must be converted into goals
PAOK lost last week despite enjoying more possession and creating more chances. Alessio Lisci's men now need to make much better use of their opportunities, or last year’s Europa League playoff participants risk dropping into the Conference League qualifiers.
Before the defeat to Anderlecht, the Greeks confidently dispatched Dynamo Kyiv with an aggregate score of 5-2. Giannis Konstantelias has been especially dangerous, already netting three goals in this European campaign, while Andrija Živković should again start on the right; Taha Ali remains doubtful due to a shoulder injury.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Anderlecht won the first leg in Thessaloniki 1-0.
- Mihajlo Cvetković has scored in both of Anderlecht's Europa League qualifiers this season.
- Giannis Konstantelias has already struck three times in this season’s European competitions.
Visitors’ pressure could turn the tie: prediction for Anderlecht vs PAOK
PAOK have already shown in the first match that they can impose their style on the Belgians, but were let down by poor finishing. In Brussels, the Greeks will need to push forward more aggressively, and if they are more clinical, they are fully capable of overturning the narrow deficit.
Anderlecht are in good form but haven’t looked solid enough to comfortably protect their advantage for the full 90 minutes. The visitors have enough attacking quality to win the return leg and force the tie into a penalty shootout.
