Brussels football club RSC Anderlecht begin their Europa League campaign against Sweden’s BK Häcken at home tonight.
The first leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League will kick off on Thursday at Astrid Park at 20:00. Anderlecht secured European football by finishing fourth in the Jupiler Pro League’s Championship Play-offs last season.
With the new footballing season already at our doors, Anderlecht will face their Europa League opponents on Thursday and start the new Belgian first division season against Flemish side Westerlo on Sunday.
On Thursday night, the Brussels side will be confident of getting one foot into the next round of the Europa League by securing a comfortable home win ahead of the return leg on 31 July in Sweden.
RSC Anderlecht pose for a team picture at the 2025-2026 season photoshoot, Tuesday 22 July 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
The visitors BK Häcken have not been on the best run of form. The Gothenburg-based team are currently sitting 8th in the Swedish league, having already won and lost 6 games each, with four draws. They were the winners of the Swedish Cup last spring,
The team also rarely keeps a clean sheet, conceding 25 goals in sixteen games. Silas Andersen, Häcken's best player, will also miss Thursday's first leg due to suspension.
Hacken’s Bravida Arena, which only holds around 6,000 spectators in Gothenburg, will be a tricky return match due to their artificial pitch, which Anderlecht could struggle with.
Anderlecht’s new manager Besnik Hasi will be hoping to get the season off to a strong start in both games this week. However, he remains cautious.
Anderlecht's head coach Besnik Hasi pictured during a press conference of Belgian soccer team RSC Anderlecht, on Wednesday 23 July 2025 in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
"There are no excuses," reiterated Hasi during Wednesday's press conference. "We are playing at home and intend to make our mark."
The manager remains cautious despite Häcken's struggles. "It will not be an easy task," he warned. "They are good with possession, featuring a mix of experienced and quick young players. Their four most attacking players are very dangerous."
Should Anderlecht get knocked out over the two legs, the Mauves will go down to the third preliminary round of the Conference League, and face either Tiraspol or Utrecht.
Stromae's touch
Earlier this month, the 34-time Belgian champions announced a deal with singer Stromae’s fashion label Mosaert to design this season’s four first team kits, including home, away, third, and ‘tribute’ jerseys. They draw inspiration from Anderlecht's 1980s shirts.
Stromae, who is from Brussels, had previously remixed the club’s anthem, Anderlecht Champion, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song’s release by Grand Jojo.
Mosaert is known as a multidisciplinary creative house specialising in music, fashion, and audiovisual arts.
