TSG Hoffenheim vs. Besiktas Europa League preview: Team news & predicted lineups

TSG Hoffenheim are looking to pick up their first European points of the season on Thursday, as they welcome Besiktas to the SNP Arena.

Hoffenheim boss Christian Ilzer looks on against Hamburger SV.

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Returning to Europe after a year away, Hoffenheim could not have gotten off to a worse start than their 2-0 loss to Crete on the road. 

Now, Christian Ilzer's side welcome Besiktas to the SNP Arena, looking to make amends, though their league form could well be a stumbling block. 

Hoffenheim have won only once this term, dispatching Stuttgart 2-1 at home, but they followed that with a defeat to Paderborn before the international break, before Hamburg sealed a dramatic win in added time on Saturday. 

Besiktas on the other hand, sit second in the league, having started well under Vincenzo Italiano, who reached the Europa League quarter-finals with Bologna last term. 

Last time out, the Turkish giants beat Kocaelispor 2-1 on home soil, while they ran riot against Marseille in Europe - winning 4-1 against the French side. 

Team news and predicted lineups

In terms of absentees, it is two apiece. 

Albian Hajdari and Patrick Wimmer sit out, both set to return between the end of the month and mid-October.

Italiano will be without Vaclav Cerny due to a thigh injury, while former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic could miss the clash due to illness.

Click here to see our predicted Hoffenheim and Besiktas lineups