Hoffenheim begin their UEFA Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday. The match against Greek Cup winners OFI Crete at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion kicks off at 6.45pm CEST.
It marks the club's first return to European competition since the 2024/25 season. Manager Christian Ilzer, who led the team to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga last term, has prepared his side after a mixed start domestically. Hoffenheim currently sit 13th in the Bundesliga table with three points from three games.
Opponent in Strong Form
Opponents OFI Crete ended a roughly 25-year absence from the main stage of a UEFA competition. Winning the Greek Cup last spring, defeating PAOK in extra time in the final, paved the way. In the new Super League season, the Cretans are joint-top with three wins from three games, most recently beating Olympiacos 1-0.
Confidence After Bundesliga Win
Hoffenheim travel with a positive feeling. Last weekend, they secured their first three Bundesliga points of the season with a 2-1 home win against VfB Stuttgart. Adam Hložek scored both goals in that victory. The Czech forward is currently the team's top scorer this season with two goals in three league appearances. The full squad overview and upcoming fixtures, including the away match at SC Paderborn 07 on September 20, can be found on the squad and fixtures pages.
Preparation for the European competition has been intense. "We are looking forward to this challenge," Ilzer told reporters before the team's departure. The squad aims to carry the momentum from the Stuttgart win and get their group stage campaign off to a successful start in Greece. The next competitive fixture is on Sunday away to Paderborn.
This story first appeared at bundesliga.com
