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Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Anderlecht and Hacken, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Anderlecht welcome Hacken to Lotto Park in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round, aiming to secure a positive result on Thursday ahead of next week’s reverse fixture in Sweden. 

However, the Belgian outfit must overcome the slight disadvantage of not having any competitive action in the lead-up to the encounter, as the Swedish side are in the middle of their domestic season, which started in March. 

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Match preview

While Anderlecht are favourites to beat Hacken over two legs in Europa League qualifying, Besnik Hasi’s team must begin their doubleheader without competitive action. 

Since the end of the previous season in Belgium, the Purple and White have only played friendly matches over the past four weeks, securing three wins and drawing twice. 

Although those victories have come against opponents they were expected to defeat, Sporting fans will be pleased to host Hacken in their current form rather than how they finished the previous season. 

Anderlecht lost four consecutive matches to end the last campaign, including a defeat in the domestic cup final against Club Brugge on May 4, as well as further losses to Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge and Genk. 

Remaining unbeaten in pre-season, though against moderately challenging opponents, should benefit the Belgian side as they prepare to face their Swedish visitors, aiming to reach the Main Path third qualifying round, where they could meet either Brann or Red Bull Salzburg. 

Unlike their hosts, whose domestic season begins at home against Westerlo on July 27, Hacken have been engaged in competitive league matches since the Swedish Allsvenskan started in late March.

Having played 16 matches already, Jens Gustafsson’s men are clearly the team with more competitive minutes under their belt entering their Europa League qualifying match.

The Wasps have already defeated Slovakian side Spartak Trnava in the first qualifying round, even though the aggregate score of 3-2 highlighted how close the ties were over 180 minutes.

Including those results against the Slovak team, Hacken now travel to Brussels on a five-match unbeaten streak, with three wins and two draws.

After failing to qualify for the league phase of last season's Conference League, Hacken must beat ostensibly stronger opponents to eventually secure a spot in this season's Europa League.

Anderlecht friendlies form:

Hacken Europa League form:

Hacken form (all competitions):

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Team News

Besides the doubtful Elyess Dao and Killian Sardella, Hasi has a healthy Anderlecht squad to choose from against Hacken.

Kasper Dolberg scored 24 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions last season, with 15 in 42 so far in 2023-24, and the forward should play a key role in both legs for the Belgian club.

Luis Vazquez and Keisuke Goto have been in good goalscoring form in pre-season, with both netting braces in the 5-0 win over Dordrecht on July 12, and both men provide alternative options in the final third for the Brussels-based side.

Unlike the hosts, Hacken have several injury worries, with Amor Layouni, Brice Wembangomo, Jacob Laursen and Peter Abrahamsson all uncertain to play on Thursday.

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

If four-goal league scorer Layouni misses out, Hacken will look to Samuel Holm, who has scored four goals and assisted twice in the Allsvenskan, to shoulder the final-third responsibilities for the Swedish visitors.

Anderlecht possible starting lineup:

Coosemans; Camara, Simic, Hey, N’Diaye; Llansana; Angulo, Stroeykens, Verschaeren, Hazard; Dolberg

Hacken possible starting lineup:

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

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We say: Anderlecht 2-1 Hacken

 

While Hacken have the edge in competitive matches under their belt, Anderlecht are a class above the Swedish side, and the presence of Dolberg for Sporting and Layouni’s possible absence for the away side could tilt the first leg in the Belgian club’s favour.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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