OFI Crete vs Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Kicking disconnected their Europa League campaign, Bundesliga broadside Hoffenheim volition question to look league-phase debutants OFI Crete astatine Pankritio Stadium connected Thursday.

O Omilos travel into this clash successful fantabulous form, portion Die Kraichgauer volition beryllium hoping to guarantee their triumph past clip retired was not a one-off.

Match preview

Christos Kontis's OFI fought their mode done a playoff to scope the Europa League due for the precise archetypal time, and they volition beryllium retired to beryllium their beingness successful the contention is much than a specified novelty.

O Omilos earned a spot successful the last qualifying circular by winning the 2025-26 Greek Cup, and capitalised by thoroughly beating CSKA Sofia 5-0 connected aggregate past month.

Preparing for their foray into Europe, Kontis's broadside have put unneurotic an awesome three-game winning streak, astir precocious downing giants Olympiacos 1-0 connected Saturday, courtesy of a second-half effort from striker Kenan Kodro.

That triumph marked OFI's 4th consecutive cleanable sheet, a singular antiaircraft grounds that volition springiness the underdogs anticipation up of Thursday's showdown.

Adding to the hosts' consciousness of optimism is the information they person won each 4 of their location matches successful 2026-27, and are yet to concede a extremity astatine Pankritio Stadium, not to notation the nine person lone mislaid 1 of their 9 outings this word - a 2-1 decision against Aris Thessaloniki connected August 30.

Meanwhile, Christian Ilzer's Hoffenheim are returning to the Europa League aft 1 play away, and volition beryllium hoping to debar a repetition of their disappointing league-phase exit from the 2024-25 iteration of the tournament.

However, Die Kraichgauer person endured a mixed run truthful far, winning doubly and losing twice,  and are yet to beryllium their consistency this term.

Ilzer's broadside kicked disconnected 2026-27 by thrashing Erzgebirge Aue 4-0 successful the archetypal circular of the DFB-Pokal, but followed up with consecutive defeats from their archetypal 2 Bundesliga outings - 3-2 against FC Koln and 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund.

Dropping six points astatine the commencement of the German apical formation calendar was frustrating for Hoffenheim, particularly considering they took the pb successful some matches, but fans remained hopeful aft seeing the team's attacking potential.

That religion was rewarded connected Saturday, erstwhile Die Kraichgauer earned their archetypal league triumph of the play by beating Stuttgart 2-1 astatine SNP Arena, acknowledgment to a brace from Adam Hlozek.

Hoffenheim volition beryllium the favourites connected Thursday, and if they tin proceed their inclination of scoring astatine slightest doubly successful each crippled truthful far, past the visitors look apt to unafraid back-to-back triumphs for the archetypal clip this campaign.

OFI Crete signifier (all competitions):

Hoffenheim signifier (all competitions):

Team News

OFI are without right-back Nikos Marinakis and person doubts astir the fittingness of centre-back Dimitrios Nikolaou, who was forced disconnected with a hep wounded against Olympiacos.

With that successful mind, Konstantinos Kostoulas, Achilleas Poungouras and Christos Sielis look acceptable to signifier Kontis's three-man defence, flanked by wing-backs Lorenzo Dickmann and Nikolaos Athanasiou.

As for Hoffenheim, they are missing winger Alexander Prass, who is simply a mates of weeks distant from returning from a musculus wounded helium sustained successful aboriginal August.

In his absence, Bambase Conte and Adam Daghim could commencement retired wide connected Thursday, supporting striker Tim Lemperle up apical alongside Adam Hlozek.

At the other extremity of the pitch, Ozan Kabak and Albian Hajdari volition beryllium protecting Oliver Baumann successful goal, conscionable down a treble pivot of Leon Avdullahu and Wouter Burger.

OFI Crete imaginable starting lineup:

Christogeorgos; Kostoulas, Poungouras, Sielis; Dickmann, Androutsos, Bouchalakis, Athanasiou; Fountas, Cantalapiedra; Kodro

Hoffenheim imaginable starting lineup:

Baumann; Gendrey, Kabak, Hajdari, Rots; Avdullahu, Burger; Conte, Hlozek, Daghim; Lemperle

We say: OFI Crete 1-2 Hoffenheim

OFI are successful beardown form, and their awesome antiaircraft grounds suggests that Thursday's contention is apt to beryllium a adjacent affair.

Hoffenheim person been inconsistent successful presumption of results this season, but having scored astatine slightest doubly successful each of their 4 outings truthful far, the German side's attacking firepower should beryllium capable to gain each 3 points.

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