- PAOK have won their last 2 matches against Dynamo Kiev in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 (W2).
- Anderlecht have failed to win any of their last 2 away matches (D1, L1).
A clash of styles in Greece
The slight favourites in this UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 clash are FC PAOK Thessaloniki at 4/5, with Anderlecht on the other side at 69/20 and the draw at 27/10. The Greeks have come into their own over the past 2 games, securing a 3-2 win away to Dynamo Kiev before thrashing them 2-0 at home, and they will be hoping to use the momentum from that positive result to take another step towards qualification.
Anderlecht are on a mixed run of 2 wins, 2 draws and a defeat from their last 5, with a 3-1 home win over Hammarby being followed up by a 1-1 draw away in the same competition. Vitor Bruno's side will need to get their act together away from home if they're to have a chance in this tie, with Anderlecht yet to win away from home across all competitions, drawing 2 and losing 2 of 4 games and averaging 1.00 goal per game while conceding an average of 2.50 goals away.
PAOK have momentum
PAOK have had a more consistent run of results in recent weeks with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their last 5 games. In all competitions, PAOK have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 3 of their last 10, so they're by no means perfect but they've got some momentum behind them at just the right time to go for the kill against Anderlecht.
Alessio Lisci has given PAOK a more structured shape than they had previously with a three-at-the-back formation that provides width via wing-backs and faster, more vertical ball movement. This has allowed Giannis Konstantelias to shine in the final third, with the PAOK attacker scoring 3 goals in their 2 UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 matches so far.
Anderlecht are a possession-based side who are very proactive in their pressing game under Vitor Bruno, focusing on winning the ball back high up the pitch and combining wide in their 4-3-3 formation. Danylo Sikan has been their chief finisher in this competition so far, scoring 3 of Anderlecht's 8 goals in their 5-game run.
Game is a tight game
We think the game might be a little tighter than the market suggests, with Both Teams to Score is coming in at 4/5 and Under 2.5 goals is a shade shorter than Over 2.5 at 87/100. We're going for both of those and a PAOK win or a tense draw. If PAOK can play through the press and hit Anderlecht on the break, they can take advantage of their leaky away record and take the win.
Anderlecht are a tough nut to crack but have not found their best rhythm yet, so we're siding with the team that comes in with the most momentum and PAOK's strong home record (W3, D1, L2 from 6, scoring 2.33 and conceding 1.33).
