Hoffenheim vs. Dynamo Kyiv preview: Team news and predicted lineups
| Oliver Baumann (right). | Photo: TSG Hoffenheim |
Out-of-form Hoffenheim take on Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League on Thursday.
After salvaging a late 1-1 draw against FC Midtjylland in their Europa League opener, Hoffenheim were 3-0 up early against Werder Bremen at the weekend. However, after Stanley Nsoki saw red, the Sinsheim side threw the game away and eventually lost 3-4.
The defeat stretched Hoffenheim's winless run to four games and put further pressure on head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo ahead of Thursday's clash, with reports suggesting that the Bundesliga outfit have already begun the search for his replacement.
Dynamo Kyiv are doing well domestically, sitting top of the Ukrainian league with 19 points after seven games, but their Europa League opener didn't go as they had hoped, with Lazio beating them 3-0 after three first-half goals.
They'll be hoping for a better result against a Hoffenheim side who won't be helped by a long injury list.
Ihlas Bebou, Finn Ole Becker, Denis Geiger, Ozan Kabak and Grischa Pröme all remain sidelined for the Bundesliga outfit. Andrej Kramaric has missed the last two games through illness, with Hoffenheim hoping to have him back for Thursday's clash.
Update (October 3, 10:20 CET): Andrej Kramaric has been passed fit. According to reports, Mergim Berisha will not be in squad for disciplinary reasons.
For Dynamo, Maksim Bragaru is suspended after seeing red against Lazio. Volodymyr Shepelev (muscle), Matvii Ponomarenko (ankle) and Brayan Ceballos (thigh) are also out.
Click here to see our predicted Hoffenheim vs. Dynamo Kyiv lineups.