PAOK and Anderlecht will meet at Toumba Stadium on Thursday evening, as the two sides begin their 2026/27 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie.PAOK reached this stage after beating Dynamo Kyiv 5-2 on aggregate, while Anderlecht came through their tie against Hammarby with a 4-2 aggregate win.Verdict: PAOK to winBest odds: 79/100Bookmaker: 1xBetPAOKPAOK should feel good before this match. They beat Dynamo Kyiv 3-2 away from home, then finished the job with a 2-0 win in Thessaloniki.That was a strong way to start the season. PAOK did not just survive the previous round, they looked sharp in attack and showed they can handle difficult moments over two legs.The first leg against Anderlecht gives them a clear chance to take control of the tie. They are at home, they already have competitive rhythm, and Toumba should make this a difficult trip for the Belgian side.PAOK were also very strong at home last season. They did not lose a league match at Toumba, and that matters in this kind of qualifier. The home side will expect to attack from the start and force Anderlecht into defending deeper than they want.The key is to make that pressure count. Anderlecht has enough attacking quality to punish mistakes, so PAOK cannot play loosely. But if they move the ball quickly into Konstantelias, Zivkovic and Taison, they should create chances.PAOK Team NewsTaha Ali is a doubt because of a shoulder problem, while Shola Shoretire is also struggling with a knee issue.Taison could start on the left if Ali is not ready. That would still give PAOK experience and quality in the final third.Andrija Zivkovic should start on the right. He has big European experience and remains one of the players who can decide these matches with one cross, shot or set-piece delivery.Giannis Konstantelias should again be important after scoring three goals across the Dynamo Kyiv tie. PAOK will look to him between the lines, especially if Anderlecht sits in a mid-block.AnderlechtAnderlecht also comes into the match after a good result, but their previous round was not clean. They drew 1-1 away to Hammarby, then fell behind in the second leg before late goals helped them win 3-1 and go through.That shows both sides of Anderlecht. They have enough talent to score and change matches, but they can also make things difficult for themselves.This is a harder away game than Hammarby. PAOK has more European experience, the crowd will be louder, and Anderlecht is still settling under Vitor Bruno.The visitors also lost important attacking quality in the summer. Thorgan Hazard left after scoring 15 goals last season, so Anderlecht is now asking younger players to carry more of the final-third burden.Mihajlo Cvetkovic can be dangerous. He scored a key goal against Hammarby and gives Anderlecht a proper threat in the box. But if Anderlecht spends too long defending close to their own goal, they may struggle to get him involved enough.Anderlecht Team NewsNathan Saliba is available again after suspension, which gives Anderlecht another midfield option.Mario Stroeykens and Killian Sardella are both injury doubts. That is a concern because Anderlecht needs as much stability as possible before going to Toumba.Lukas Ambros, Leo Petrot, Joshua Nga Kana and Giulian Biancone all featured in the previous round after arriving in the summer. Anderlecht is still building connections, especially in defense.Danylo Sikan should be involved in attack, while Cvetkovic is also pushing for a major role after scoring against Hammarby.PAOK vs Anderlecht key factors to considerPAOK beat Dynamo Kyiv 5-2 on aggregate in the previous round.PAOK won the home leg against Dynamo Kyiv 2-0.Anderlecht beat Hammarby 4-2 on aggregate.Anderlecht needed two late goals in the second leg to finish the Hammarby tie.PAOK went unbeaten at home in the Greek league last season.Taha Ali and Shola Shoretire are doubts for PAOK.Mario Stroeykens and Killian Sardella are doubts for Anderlecht.The winner will face Kairat Almaty or Levski Sofia in the playoff round.ConclusionAnderlecht has enough quality to make this interesting. They came through the Hammarby tie, they have young attacking players with confidence, and they can hurt PAOK if the home side leaves gaps behind the midfield.The problem is the match setup. PAOK is at home, already looks sharp after two competitive games, and should be able to put Anderlecht under more pressure than Hammarby did.Anderlecht is still changing under Vitor Bruno, and this is not the easiest place to build rhythm. If they start slowly, PAOK can take control early and force them into chasing the match.PAOK does not need to win the tie tonight, but they do need to make Toumba count. They have the stronger home profile, better momentum and enough attacking quality to win the first leg.Verdict: PAOK to winBest odds: 79/100Bookmaker: 1xBetThe post Prediction: PAOK vs Anderlecht appeared first on SoccerNews.