PAOK host Anderlecht on August 6, 2026, in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying-round tie. Both clubs advanced through the previous stage after recording convincing home victories on July 30: PAOK defeated Dynamo Kyiv 2-0, while Anderlecht came from behind to beat Hammarby 3-1. The home side have won both of their Europa League matches this season, whereas the visitors remain unbeaten in the competition with one victory and one draw. The available ranking places PAOK first and Anderlecht second, adding further interest to a contest between two teams that have started their European campaigns positively. This will be their first official meeting, with the supplied head-to-head record listing a 2-2 friendly draw on June 29, 2018.

PAOK Recent Form and Key Statistics

PAOK enter the first leg with an excellent Europa League record. They have collected two wins from two matches in the competition, averaging 2.5 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game. Their latest European result was the 2-0 home victory over Dynamo Kyiv, a performance that continued their perfect start and showed that they can combine attacking output with defensive control.
The broader recent record is also encouraging. PAOK have registered four victories and one defeat across their last five matches, scoring an average of 2.8 goals and conceding 1.4 per fixture. Those figures point to a team carrying a regular threat in the final third, even if their recent games have not always been free of defensive problems.
The timing of PAOK’s goals is another relevant feature. At least one second-half goal has been scored in each of their last 11 Europa League fixtures. This is a total-match trend rather than a record restricted to goals scored by PAOK, but it still suggests that their European games tend to remain active after the interval. They have also been ahead at half-time in each of their last three matches and avoided trailing at the break in 22 of the previous 24.
Goalless matches have been uncommon in PAOK’s recent record. Only four of their last 18 fixtures finished with under 0.5 total goals, while that outcome occurred in three of their previous 15 Europa League home matches and two of their last 10 home games across all competitions. With a place in the next round at stake over two legs, the home side will be aiming to turn those strong scoring and first-half numbers into an advantage before the return fixture.

Anderlecht Recent Form and Key Statistics

Anderlecht travel for this first leg after an important 3-1 victory over Hammarby on July 30. Having fallen behind, the Belgian side recovered to win the match and progress with a 4-2 aggregate score. Their Europa League campaign has so far produced one win and one draw, alongside averages of 2.0 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game.
Across their last five matches, Anderlecht have recorded two victories, two draws and one defeat. They have averaged 1.6 goals scored and 1.8 conceded during that sequence. That balance underlines both sides of their recent profile: the visitors have been capable of finding the net consistently, but they have also allowed opponents regular opportunities.
The clearest concern is their defensive run. Anderlecht have conceded at least once in each of their last 18 matches. At the same time, all of their previous 14 fixtures have produced over 1.5 total goals. These are separate trends, but together they describe games that have repeatedly contained scoring action rather than long periods of complete defensive control.
The visitors’ Europa League matches have also started quickly enough to produce at least one first-half goal in their last 10 appearances in the competition. Their second-half trend is even longer: a goal after the interval has been recorded in 19 of Anderlecht’s previous 21 matches, including 20 of their last 21 away fixtures. Once again, these statistics refer to total match goals rather than goals scored exclusively by Anderlecht.
One contrasting number concerns corners. Anderlecht’s last four away matches have each featured under 7.5 total corners. Although that does not directly determine the likely scoreline, it shows that their recent away fixtures have not produced a high corner count despite the persistent goal trends.

PAOK vs Anderlecht Match Analysis

This Europa League preview presents a first leg shaped by strong attacking numbers and different levels of recent defensive security. PAOK have the advantage of playing at home and arrive with two European victories from two, including a 2-0 result in their latest outing. Their recent half-time record is particularly notable, with three consecutive leads at the interval and only two occasions in the last 24 matches when they were behind at that stage.
Anderlecht, however, have demonstrated that they can respond to setbacks. Their comeback against Hammarby secured a 3-1 win, and their two Europa League matches this season have yielded an average of two goals scored per game. The challenge is to improve a defensive sequence that has seen them concede in 18 consecutive fixtures. Facing a PAOK side averaging 2.8 goals across its last five matches makes that vulnerability an important part of the first-leg discussion.
The supplied data gives the hosts a 56% win probability, compared with 24% for a draw and 20% for an Anderlecht victory. Goal-related indicators are much tighter: over 2.5 goals is listed at 51%, while both teams to score is marked at 48%. Rather than pointing to one overwhelming goals scenario, those figures underline the fine margins surrounding the match.
The previous recorded encounter