Hacken's attempt to overturn a narrow defeat to Anderlecht last week in the Europa League second qualifying round sees the Swedish side host the Belgian team in Thursday's second leg at Hisingen Arena.

The Wasps fell 1-0 in Brussels last Thursday, a defeat which is by no means unrealistic to overturn in their ambition to reach the Main Path third qualifying round, where the winner of this week’s tie could meet either Brann or Red Bull Salzburg.


Match preview

Hacken could not capitalise on having more competitive match action than Anderlecht this season, as they lost 1-0 in Brussels. meaning they must at least win in 90 minutes on Thursday to force extra time.

While that objective is certainly achievable, Jens Gustafsson’s men do not enter the return leg in good form after failing to secure a win in any competition since beating Trnava in the previous round and prevailing 4-1 against Halmstad in a league match.

They have subsequently recorded two draws and two defeats, the latter being a 6-1 thrashing by Djurgarden on Sunday, just three days after their 1-0 loss to Anderlecht in Brussels.

Still shaken by that humbling, where the Wasps were reduced to nine men, Gustafsson’s team are seeking a response against their Belgian visitors to break their four-match winless streak across all competitions.

However, Hacken’s ongoing issues with clean sheets — having conceded twice to Trnava (2-2), lost to Thursday's opponents last week and let in six in the Allsvenskan — have supporters anxious about their team's prospects.

Kasper Dolberg celebrates scoring for Anderlecht on April 23, 2025

The Swedish side, however, must find solutions against the Belgian giants, who enter Thursday's encounter in contrasting form to them, having gone unbeaten in pre-season and securing back-to-back victories in competitive fixtures.

One of those wins came last week when Kasper Dolberg's 35th-minute strike in Brussels gave Besnik Hasi’s men a narrow advantage before the crucial reverse fixture in Gothenburg.

Les Mauve et Blanc then followed that slender triumph with with an impressive 5-2 win over Westerlo in the opening gameweek of the Belgian Pro League.

Considering pre-season results, Anderlecht's unbeaten streak now extends to six matches, comprising four wins and two draws since they reconvened after the previous campaign concluded.

Having lost their final four matches across all competitions last season, with three of those setbacks featuring two or more goals conceded, Sporting's new season has started smoothly.

Hasi’s men aim to maintain their perfect record in competitive fixtures by advancing to the third qualifying round of the competition.

Hacken Europa League form:



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Anderlecht Europa League form:



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Team News

Hackens Adrian Svanback cheers together with Silas Andersen

Hacken have several injury concerns, with Brice Wembangomo, Jacob Laursen, Isak Brusberg and Peter Abrahamsson all unlikely to play on Thursday.

Unquestionably out are Johan Hammar (Achilles) and Leo Vaisanen (knee), who are long-term absentees.

Amor Layouni has nine goal involvements in the league in 2024-25 (five goals, four assists), three more than Samuel Holm (four goals, two assists), and the pair aim to be decisive as Hacken seek a turnaround.

While Dolberg was an unused substitute in the 5-2 thrashing of Westerlo at the weekend, last season's 24-goal man, who scored the only goal in last week's reverse fixture in Brussels, should return to the Anderlecht lineup.

Although the Belgian outfit suffered no apparent injuries in the league victory, Elyess Dao and Killian Sardella are uncertain to feature for Les Mauve et Blanc this Thursday.

Hacken possible starting lineup:

Berisha; Hilvenius, Andersen, Lode, Lindqvist; Holm, Gustafson; Layouni, Svanback, Ngabo; Hrstic

Anderlecht possible starting lineup:

Coosemans; Maamar, Simic, Hey, N’Diaye; Llansana, Kana; Stroeykens, Verschaeren, Hazard; Dolberg


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We say: Hacken 1-1 Anderlecht (Anderlecht win 2-1 on aggregate)

Although Hacken have the advantage in playing more minutes, the Swedish club’s recent form and tendency to concede goals are likely to weaken their chances of progression against an Anderlecht side that have carried their pre-season momentum into competitive matches, making them favourites to win the tie and progress to the next round in Europa League qualifying.

Preview: Mechelen vs Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups
By Anthony Nolan
Published: July 30 2025 | 16:25
Last updated: July 31 2025 | 00:58
Preview: Mechelen vs Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups© Imago
19-time Belgian Pro League champions Club Brugge will continue their quest to recover the title when they travel to take on Mechelen at Achter De Kazerne on Friday.

De Kakkers are looking for their first win of the season, while Blauw-Zwart are aiming to maintain their 100% start.


Match preview
Frederik Vanderbiest's Mechelen finished eighth in the 2024-25 edition of the Belgian top flight, but they have their sights set on Europe and a spot in the top six this term.

On Saturday, De Kakkers were held to a 1-1 draw by promoted club Zulte Waregem, and the manager will be concerned that his team were second-best to the Challenger Pro League champions, eventually succumbing to their pressure by giving away a 99th-minute penalty for De Boeren to score an equaliser.

That stalemate has Vanderbiest's side seventh in the table, where they fall short of sixth-placed OH Leuven in terms of goals-scored after the first gameweek.

Ahead of this clash, the hosts won all three of their pre-season friendlies on their own turf, but while they have lost just once in competitive matches at Achter De Kazerne since January, they have only taken maximum points from two of their 11 home league fixtures in that period.

A first triumph of the campaign would be enough to take Mechelen up to top spot in a best-case scenario, but defeat could see them drop down towards the relegation zone at this early stage of the season.

Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen on March 4, 2025

Meanwhile, Nicky Hayen's Brugge missed out on the title to Union Saint-Gilloise last term, and they will be dreaming of lifting number 20 in 2025-26.

This past Sunday, Blauw-Zwart made a strong start towards doing so with a 2-1 victory over European regulars Genk, and the boss will be pleased with the character that his side showed to come from behind through Joel Ordonez and Brandon Mechele in the second half.

Three points at the weekend left Hayen's men fourth in the Pro League, two points ahead of their opponents but two goal-difference shy of top-of-the-table Anderlecht.

Knowing that another win could put them at the summit, the visitors will take confidence from their excellent travelling record that features five wins and two draws from their last seven games on the road, including triumphs over the Purple and White, Gent and Genk at the tail end of last season's league campaign.

Should Brugge earn back-to-back wins on Friday, then they could leapfrog Standard Liege, Saint-Truiden and the leaders depending on results elsewhere.

Mechelen Belgian Pro League form:



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Club Brugge Belgian Pro League form:



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Club Brugge form (all competitions):



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Team News
Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika during his side's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, on September 18, 2024

Mechelen could start new signing Gora Diouf at centre-back after his move from FC Sion, and if the manager decides that he is ready, he could feature alongside Redouane Halhal and Rafik Belghali in a three-man setup.

At the opposite end of the pitch, 21-year-old striker Keano Vanrafelghem is likely to be unavailable on Friday as he deals with a knock, so expect to see Lion Lauberbach and Nikola Storm start up top once again.

As for Brugge, midfielder Raphael Onyedika was taken off with an injury late on against Genk at the weekend, and Lynnt Audoor should replace him in the XI for this clash.

Blauw-Zwart are also missing centre-back Joel Ordonez after he was sent off in the club's opening league game, so Brandon Mechele could be joined by the versatile Zaid Romero at the heart of the defence.

Mechelen possible starting lineup:

Wolf; Belghali, Halhal, Diouf; Pflucke, Hammar, Schoofs, Zekri; Mrabti; Lauberbach, Storm

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:

Mignolet; Spileers, Romero, Mechele, Seys; Reis, Audoor, Vanaken; Vetlesen, Vermant, Tzolis


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We say: Mechelen 1-2 Club Brugge


Mechelen may be resilient on their own turf, but they have struggled for home wins throughout 2025.

In contrast, Brugge have been excellent on their travels, and their consistent record of picking up victories on the road suggests that they could take all three points on Friday.

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