OFI vs. Hoffenheim preview: Team news & predicted lineups
| Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images |
Having snapped a two-game Bundesliga losing streak with a 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart at the weekend, TSG Hoffenheim begin their European campaign on Thursday with an away trip to Crete to face Greek side OFI.
Christian Ilzer’s men took the lead in both of their previous league games against 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund, only to lose 3-2 on both occasions, before a brace from Adam Hlozek finally secured Hoffenheim their first Bundesliga win of the season against Stuttgart.
Having crashed out of the league phase of last season's Europa League, the Sinsheim-based side will be determined to go further this time around.
The first step towards doing so comes against OFI, who head into the game on the back of an impressive 1-0 away win over Olympiacos in Athens. The Cretan side currently sit third in the Greek Super League, having picked up nine points from their opening four games.
Overall, OFI have won their last three matches in all competitions, suggesting that Hoffenheim should be wary of underestimating their opponents despite going into the game as significant favourites.
Team news and predicted lineups:
OFI are expected to be without Nikolaos Marinakis, Chris Sielis and Aaron Leya Iseka due to injuries.
Alexander Prass is currently Hoffenheim’s only confirmed absentee, but Christian Ilzer is expected to rotate his squad in several positions, with Robin Hranac, Nathan de Cat and Andrej Kramaric among those who could be handed a rare starting role on Thursday.
