Anderlecht vs Paok Saloniki Preview: Prediction, Team News & Lineups

Every summer, UEFA Europa League qualifying throws up ties that genuinely matter, and the second leg between Anderlecht vs Paok Saloniki at Lotto Park on 13 August 2026 is one of them. The Brussels club silenced Toumba Stadium in the first leg seven days ago, Mihajlo Cvetkovic netting inside the opening minute to hand Vitor Bruno's side a precious 1-0 advantage. Betiball has crunched the numbers on both sides heading into what promises to be a tense, high-stakes second 90 minutes. PAOK Saloniki must win by at least a goal to force extra time, or by two or more to go through outright. Anderlecht need just a draw.

Match Overview

The third qualifying round second legs take place on 13 August 2026, with Anderlecht hosting PAOK Saloniki at Lotto Park in Brussels. Goal.com's fixture list places kickoff at 14:30 local time. This is the decisive leg of a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 third qualifying round tie, with the aggregate winner progressing to the playoffs for a spot in the league phase.

PAOK Thessaloniki, who finished third in the 2025/26 Greek Super League, beat Dynamo Kyiv 5-2 on aggregate in the second qualifying round. Anderlecht, who finished fourth in the 2025/26 Belgian Pro League, claimed a 4-2 aggregate victory over Swedish side Hammarby in the second qualifying round. The two clubs then met in Thessaloniki for the first leg, where Anderlecht's previous match against PAOK ended 0-1, with Anderlecht winning that game.

That away goal means Anderlecht carry a slender 1-0 lead into Brussels. In the return leg on 13 August, PAOK are the side that need a win to keep their Europa League dream alive. Anderlecht are historically the more decorated side in European terms, having previously claimed four European trophies, though since their heyday in the 1970s and 80s they have struggled to make a major impression on the continent.

Anderlecht Form & Recent Results

Anderlecht have recorded back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Pro League in recent seasons and suffered consecutive cup final defeats. More managerial change followed this summer, with former Porto boss Vitor Bruno taking charge for the first time competitively in the second qualifying round against Hammarby.

Despite squandering a first-leg lead after going down to 10 men in Sweden, then falling behind on aggregate early in the second leg, Anderlecht ultimately won 4-2 on aggregate overall. Bruno's side enjoyed 60% possession in the second leg and registered six shots on target, with Danylo Sikan, Mihajlo Cvetkovic and Tristan Degreef all on the scoresheet in a 3-1 home win.

The Belgian club's most recent pre-second-leg domestic outing gave additional confidence. They kicked off their new Pro League season with a confident win over La Louviere at the weekend. Cvetkovic's first-minute strike in Thessaloniki then confirmed the attacking threat is real.

In their last 10 matches across all competitions, Anderlecht recorded 3 wins, 4 defeats and 3 draws, averaging 1.5 goals per game from around 13.4 attempts. They averaged 48.6% possession and conceded an average of 2.0 goals from 14.4 attempts.

Danylo Sikan and Mihajlo Cvetkovic have each scored 4 goals in that period, with Adriano Bertaccini adding 2. The numbers reflect a team still finding its feet under a new manager but with enough individual quality to hurt opponents in Europe.

Paok Saloniki Form & Recent Results

Having qualified for the Europa League by finishing third in the Greek Super League last season, PAOK are now just two steps from the league phase. New coach Alessio Lisci led them through to the third qualifying round by completing a 5-2 aggregate defeat of Dynamo Kyiv.

They won both legs against Kyiv, beating them 3-2 away and 2-0 at home. Konstantelias was the hero of that tie, directly involved in four goals. However, the first leg against Anderlecht was a different story. In Greece, all of PAOK's plans were disrupted by Cvetkovic, who scored in the very first minute.

Coach Alessio Lisci has been consistent with a 4-3-3 shape across recent matches, and that system largely held shape in the Hammarby/Dynamo qualifying run. The Greeks tend to be direct, with Lisci's men doing real damage on the counterattack, though PAOK surrendered about 42% of possession away from home in their qualifying run.

PAOK finished third in the previous domestic season and are traditionally slow to hit top gear early in a new campaign. Their only competitive match practice coming into this tie has been through European fixtures.

Across recent matches, PAOK have accumulated 4 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws, averaging 1.6 goals and scoring from 3.9 shots on goal per game. They have held 53.1% possession on average, while conceding 1.2 goals from 4.5 opponent shots on target.

Head-to-Head

The two clubs' most recent head-to-head meetings have both produced both teams scoring and over 3.5 goals in total. That pattern of open, high-scoring encounters makes the second leg at Lotto Park all the more intriguing, since PAOK are now forced to attack from the first whistle. Goals on both sides feel more likely than a cautious shut-out, given the historical precedent and PAOK's structural need to score.

The first leg itself bucked that trend slightly, settled by a single early goal, but second legs where a team carries a one-goal deficit frequently open up from the 60th minute onward. The aggregate context more than compensates for any tendency toward early caution.

Team News & Possible Lineups

Anderlecht

Mario Stroeykens and Killian Sardella are both fitness doubts heading into the second leg, which limits Bruno's rotation options. Nathan Saliba is available again after serving a suspension, which adds useful depth in the center of the park.

Anderlecht are still integrating summer signings Lukas Ambros, Leo Petrot, Joshua Nga Kana and Giulian Biancone, all of whom made their competitive debuts in the second qualifying round. Bruno has also had to reshape the attack after Thorgan Hazard, who scored 15 goals last term, left for Lens along with creative midfielder Nathan De Cat, who joined Hoffenheim.

Expected lineup (4-3-3): Cosemans; Maamar, Biancone, Petrot, N'Diaye; Kana, Llansana, Ambros; Seke, Sikan, Cvetkovic.

Paok Saloniki

PAOK have injury doubts over Sweden international Taha Ali (shoulder) and English winger Shola Shoretire (knee), both of whom could miss the second leg. Former Shakhtar Donetsk forward Taison is expected to cover Ali's position on the left wing, supporting the striker through the middle.

With 23 goals to his name in UEFA competition, club captain Andrija Zivkovic is set to start on the right, while Konstantelias generally operates in an advanced midfield role. Jiri Pavlenka is the first-choice goalkeeper, bringing considerable European experience, and the defensive pairing of Hatzidiakos and Michailidis selects itself.

Expected lineup (4-2-3-1): Pavlenka; Gomez, Michailidis, Hatzidiakos, Kenny; Santamaria, Zafeiris; Zivkovic, Konstantelias, Taison; Mythou.

Prediction

Betiball does not accept bets. All examples and predictions are for educational purposes only.

Anderlecht arrive at Lotto Park holding the tie's most valuable asset: a 1-0 aggregate lead and home advantage. Anderlecht have won two of their last three Europa League qualification matches, averaging 1.48 goals scored per game against 1.55 conceded. PAOK won both ties in the previous qualifying round but have since lost the first leg. The statistics favor the Belgians to manage the tie from the front rather than sit deep and absorb.

Tactically, PAOK have no option but to push men forward, which plays directly into what Anderlecht do best at Lotto Park. Vitor Bruno has emphasized high intensity, aggressive pressing and quick transitions, and Belgian journalists have noted real attacking potential, though defensive lapses remain a concern. A wide-open second leg benefits a team with Sikan and Cvetkovic up front. Konstantelias arrives at this stage in the form of his life, so Anderlecht cannot afford a passive first half — but they should not need to be. Check our today's football predictions for analysis across all of tonight's fixtures.

The tie context, home form, and squad depth all point in Anderlecht's favor. PAOK are a quality side who will create chances, and the head-to-head history suggests goals will arrive at both ends. Still, overturning a 1-0 deficit away from home against a side with fresh legs and crowd support is a tall order. For those tracking Anderlecht vs Paok Saloniki predictions, the value sits on a home win covering the aggregate.

Betiball's read: Anderlecht to win 2-1, advancing 3-1 on aggregate to the Europa League playoffs.