FC Midtjylland vs. Hoffenheim preview: Team news and predicted lineups
After an unconvincing start to the new season, TSG Hoffenheim begin their European campaign on Wednesday when they travel to Herning to take on Danish champions FC Midtjylland.
Pellegrinio Matarazzo's side began the season with a 3-2 win over newly-promoted Holstein Kiel, but have since lost three consecutive matches to slip to 15th in the Bundesliga.
FC Midtjylland, on the other hand, are at the top of the Danish Superliga, where they remain unbeaten after nine games.
They came very close to qualifying for the Champions League, but ultimately fell short against Slovan Bratislava, losing 4-3 on aggregate.
That defeat doesn't seem to have affected Midtjylland too much, as they have won three out of four Superliga games since then.
Most recently, they were held to a 2-2 draw by Randers, a result they will surely accept given that they were reduced to 10 men when trailing 2-1.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, lost 2-1 to Union Berlin after conceding two quick goals.
Midtjylland were eliminated from the UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs last season, but enjoyed a successful Europa League campaign in 2022/23, when they were eliminated by Sporting CP in the knockout rounds.
Hoffenheim last played in the Europa League in the 2020/21 season, when they reached the knockout phase for the first time and were eliminated by Molde in the round of 16.
Both teams have long injury lists heading into the match.
The home side will be without Cho Gue-Sung, Marrony, Kristoffer Olsson, Paulinho and Christian Sørensen.
Ihlas Bebou, Finn Ole Becker. Ozan Kabak, Chrstopher Lenz and Grischa Prömel are definitely out for Hoffenheim, while Dennis Geiger and Florian Grillitsch are doubtful after missing out against Union at the weekend.
Click here to see our predicted Midtjylland vs. Hoffenheim lineups.