On Thursday, July 31, at Bravida Arena in Gothenburg, Häcken and Anderlecht meet again for the second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 second qualifying round. The tie resumes from the 1-0 first-leg win secured by the Belgian side, courtesy of a decisive goal from Kasper Dolberg, giving the visitors a favorable position with two out of three outcomes granting them passage to the next round. For the Swedish hosts, only a win by at least two goals will be enough. The first leg offered little excitement: Häcken failed to register a single shot on target, opting for an extremely cautious approach to minimize the damage ahead of the return leg. Jens Gustafsson’s tactical plan at least succeeded in keeping the deficit minimal, preserving their hopes for qualification. However, the Swedes are going through a tough stretch: the heavy 6-2 loss to Djurgården in the last Allsvenskan match highlighted their ongoing defensive struggles, further underlined by their current seventh place in the league. A comeback mission looks quite complicated, though the Gothenburg-based side is hoping to replicate their 2023/24 Europa League campaign, which saw them reach the group stage. Anderlecht, on the other hand, appear to have started the new season strongly. Following their win over Häcken, they delivered a dominant 5-2 victory over Westerlo in the Jupiler Pro League opener. The Belgian giants are determined to re-establish themselves on the European stage and shake off the “fallen giant” label that has haunted them in recent years. The return leg promises a very different match scenario: Häcken will be forced to push forward and open up, while Anderlecht can exploit the spaces on the counterattack and aim to seal the tie early. All signs point toward a more intense and entertaining clash compared to the first leg, with both sides battling for a qualification that remains wide open after the initial 90 minutes.

Hacken's Recent Form and Key Stats

It’s been a difficult period for Häcken, who are coming off a heavy 6-1 home defeat against Djurgården in Allsvenskan Matchday 17, just days after their European loss to Anderlecht. Their last five games across all competitions have been disappointing: just one win, two draws, and two losses, averaging 1.4 goals scored and 2 conceded per match. Unsurprisingly, they are winless in their last four outings.

Their home form is just as concerning: over the last ten games at Bravida Arena, Häcken have picked up only three wins, alongside four losses and three draws. Defensive frailty remains their biggest issue, particularly at home: Gustafsson’s team have conceded an average of three goals per game in their last four home matches and have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine. A particularly worrying stat: Häcken have conceded 21 goals in 9 home matches, making them the worst home defense in Allsvenskan.

Anderlecht's Recent Form and Key Stats

After their successful European debut against Häcken, Anderlecht confirmed their good form with a 5-2 thrashing of Westerlo in the Jupiler Pro League opener, driven by goals from Thorgan Hazard (brace), Degreef, Angulo, and Saliba. These back-to-back wins mark a clear turnaround from the end of last season, which saw them lose four straight matches, including a disappointing Belgian Cup final against Club Brugge.

Last season in the Belgian league, Anderlecht's away form was inconsistent: 9 wins, 3 draws, and 8 defeats. However, their biggest strength was their defense — they had the second-best overall backline in the regular season and were the best away defense, conceding only 12 goals in 15 road games. With their defensive core already solid, the club decided to strengthen the attack by signing left winger Ilay Camara and young central striker Cvetkovic.

Hacken vs Anderlecht Prediction and Tactical Overview

The BetMines algorithm forecasts a much different match compared to the first leg, which saw Anderlecht secure a narrow 1-0 win at home against a passive Häcken side. This time around, the prediction leans toward a more open and competitive match, with at least three goals likely and a strong chance that both teams will get on the scoresheet.

Needing to overturn the deficit, Häcken can't afford another overly cautious approach. Despite their current slump, the Swedish side must go all in from the start to have a chance. With the advantage of playing at home, they'll need to capitalize on every opportunity to turn the tide.

Anderlecht come into the second leg confident and with a slim lead to protect. While they don’t need to score, the Belgians are unlikely to sit back. They'll likely look to secure qualification by finding the net early, which would make things much tougher for the hosts.

The Over 2.5 goals prediction is also backed by recent trends: Häcken’s last four matches have all seen three or more goals and both teams scoring. Anderlecht have followed a similar path, recording six straight Over results in away games, including preseason friendlies.

• Hacken vs Anderlecht Prediction by BetMines: Both teams to score – 63%
  
  
• Hacken vs Anderlecht Prediction by BetMines: Over 2.5 goals – 64%

Hacken vs Anderlecht Probable Lineups

HACKEN (4-2-3-1): Berisha; Lindberg, Lode, Samuelsson, Lundqvist; Holm, Gustafson; Layouni, Rygaard, Nioule; Svanback. Coach: Jens Gustafsson

ANDERLECHT (4-2-3-1): Coosemans; Maamar, Hey, N'Diaye, Angulo; Kana, Llansana; Verschaeren, Degreef, Stroeykens; Dolberg. Coach: Besnik Hasi