In the UEFA Europa League game on 6 August 2026, Anderlecht beat PAOK 0:1. Match numbers: shots on target 3:2, corners 5:1.
Match report
Anderlecht edged past PAOK 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round on Wednesday evening. M. Cvetkovic gave the visitors the lead just sixty seconds in, and that proved to be the difference. PAOK controlled the ball for most of the game but could not find an equaliser despite creating more chances.
The opening goal arrived at the first minute when Cvetkovic finished clinically. By then the visitors had already set a cautious tone, knowing they would face a side that had won their previous two matches against Dynamo Kyiv. PAOK pushed forward relentlessly after that, but the visitors defended compactly and looked dangerous on the break.
Things came to a head around the half-hour mark when a PAOK effort was ruled out by VAR. The goal was initially given but then cancelled after a review involving A. Mythou. G. Michailidis missed a penalty at the same stage, which would have levelled things. To be fair, the visitors had already absorbed the pressure and were waiting for their moment.
The statistics tell a story of dominance without return. PAOK held 64 per cent possession and registered 1.78 expected goals against just 0.8 for Anderlecht. They took eleven shots with three on target, while the visitors managed only three shots but hit two on target. Many shots with one goal meant chances went begging for the home side.
Anderlecht now move forward with momentum after a run of mixed results, having beaten AZ Alkmaar and beaten Dunkirk in their previous outings. PAOK, who had been on a good run with five matches without defeat, will need to respond quickly. The aggregate scoreline remains to be seen, but this was a hard-fought away victory for the Belgians.
Prepared from match data
Key numbers
Possession, %64–36
Shots on target3–2
Shots off target8–1
Expected goals1.78–0.80
HT⚽1' M. Cvetkovic — Goal✗36' G. Michailidis — Penalty missed36' A. Mythou — var_goal_cancelled🟨38' P. Hatzidiakos — Yellow card⇄46' P. Hatzidiakos — Substitution🟨56' M. N'Diaye — Yellow card⇄57' J. Onia Seke — Substitution🟨58' E. Llansana — Yellow card⇄63' Jogo — Substitution⇄71' L. Ambros — Substitution⇄71' Taison — Substitution⇄83' A. Mythou — Substitution🟨86' A. Elustondo — Yellow card🟨90+1' D. Sikan — Yellow card
0'45'90'
Match events
1'0:1Anderlecht⚽GoalM. Cvetkovic assist: E. Llansana
36'0:1PAOK✗Penalty missedG. Michailidis assist: G. Michailidis
