Hoffenheim vs Besiktas - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides successful opposing signifier volition fastener horns astatine SNP Arena connected Thursday, erstwhile Hoffenheim host Europa League rivals Besiktas for matchday 2 of the league-phase.

Die Kraichgauer volition beryllium hopeless to get disconnected the people successful midweek, portion the Black Eagles are looking to support their 100% commencement successful the competition.

Match preview

Christian Ilzer's Hoffenheim enjoyed an fantabulous 2025-26 campaign, falling agonisingly abbreviated of Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga, but this word has been acold from acceptable truthful far.

Die Kraichgauer person suffered 4 defeats from their 5 league matches to date, including a dire 3-2 nonaccomplishment to relegation candidates Hamburger SV connected Saturday.

That mediocre showing was made importantly much concerning by the fact Ilzer's broadside surrendered the 2-1 pb they forged aboriginal successful the 2nd half, conceding 2 precocious goals aft Bernardo's dismissal.

As portion of their ongoing strife, Hoffenheim were shockingly downed 2-0 by OFI Crete successful their Europa League opener, a lucifer that saw the German club's forwards neglect to find the backmost of the nett contempt producing 1.74 expected goals.

The lone sliver of anticipation that fans of the hosts tin cling to up of Thursday's showdown is the information their sole triumph this play - 2-1 against Stuttgart connected September 12 - came at SNP Arena.

Meanwhile, Vincenzo Italiano's Besiktas are successful contrastingly exceptional form, and volition spot this clash against a struggling hostile arsenic a gilt-edged accidental to prehend maximum points.

The Black Eagles thrashed Marseille 4-1 successful their opening Europa League fixture, acknowledgment to goals from Ilhan Fakili, Michael Murillo, Ernest Poku and Vaclav Cerny.

That triumph came arsenic portion of Italiano's side's awesome tally of 5 wins from the six games preceding Thursday's contest, though they will beryllium without Cerny aft helium picked up an wounded during Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Kocaelispor.

Additionally, it remains to beryllium seen whether Besiktas tin support their signifier connected the roadworthy this week, considering the visitors person mislaid 3 of their past 4 distant games, blanking doubly successful the process.

Fans mightiness besides beryllium acrophobic by the information that the Black Eagles person kept conscionable 1 cleanable expanse crossed each competitions since mid-August, a motion that the doorway could beryllium unfastened for Hoffenheim's onslaught to find a breakthrough.

Hoffenheim Europa League form:

Hoffenheim signifier (all competitions):

Besiktas Europa League form:

Besiktas signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Hoffenheim volition beryllium without versatile forward Patrick Wimmer, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, though Bambase Conte, Adam Hlozek and Adam Daghim should beryllium acceptable to commencement down striker Tim Lemperle.

At the other extremity of the pitch, Ozan Kabak is apt to beryllium joined by Koki Machida astatine centre-back, while Vladimir Coufal and Mats Rots capable retired the four-man defence astatine full-back.

As for Besiktas, they are missing close winger Vaclav Cerny, aft helium was forced disconnected with a thigh wounded successful the archetypal fractional against Kocaelispor.

In his absence, Ilhan Fakili and Leandro Trossard look acceptable to run retired wide successful midweek, supplying Dusan Vlahovic up top.

Elsewhere, Salih Ozcan volition commencement astatine the basal of the visitors' midfield, joined by Junior Olaitan and Orkun Kokcu successful the centre of the park.

Hoffenheim imaginable starting lineup:

Baumann; Coufal, Kabak, Machida, Rots; Avdullahu, Burger; Conte, Hlozek, Daghim; Lemperle

Besiktas imaginable starting lineup:

Nubel; Murillo, Djalo, Topcu, Yilmaz; Ozcan; Fakili, Olaitan, Kokcu, Trossard; Vlahovic

We say: Hoffenheim 1-1 Besiktas

Hoffenheim person struggled passim this play truthful far, and they are improbable to get the amended of a challenging hostile connected Thursday.

However, Besiktas person been little awesome connected the roadworthy than their wide signifier would suggest, and they could beryllium frustrated this week.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.