TSG Hoffenheim have been handed a challenging UEFA Europa League group stage draw, featuring reigning Conference League champions Crystal Palace. This followed the draw this week.
Hoffenheim's home games in the group will be against Austrian champions Sturm Graz, Olympique Lyon, Ferencvaros Budapest, and Besiktas Istanbul. For away matches, the German side will travel to Crete to face OF Iraklion, to Olympiakos Piraeus, to Crystal Palace, and to RSC Anderlecht. The first matchday of the group stage is scheduled for September 15 and 16. The competition's final will be played on May 26, 2027 at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt.
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team enters the season with a solid Bundesliga foundation. In the concluded 2024/25 season, Hoffenheim finished fifth with 61 points from 34 games. Their record was 18 wins, seven draws, and nine defeats. The goal difference of +13 (65 scored, 52 conceded) was the sixth-best in the league, although they finished 28 points behind champions Bayern Munich. Their recent form shows LWDWW from the last five matches.
Crystal Palace, as the defending Conference League champions, pose the biggest challenge. The London club has established itself as a serious European force in recent years. French giants Olympique Lyon are also a high-calibre opponent, regularly featuring in European competitions. Sturm Graz, under manager Christian Ilzer, ended RB Salzburg's long dominance in Austria to win the title in 2024. This success highlights the quality of this opponent.
The other group opponents also bring European experience and challenging away fixtures. A trip to the packed stadium of Besiktas Istanbul is always a special task. Ferencvaros Budapest is a regular participant at the international level. The away trips to Greek record champions Olympiakos Piraeus and to Brussels to face RSC Anderlecht complete a demanding schedule.
Preparation runs parallel to the Bundesliga routine. The next competitive match is already on August 29, 2026, an away game at 1. FC Köln, who are currently in 14th place. This match is an important test before the European campaign begins. Planning for the upcoming travels and squad rotation is the top priority for the coaching staff.
The complete schedule for the season, including all Europa League matches, can be viewed on our fixtures page. The composition of the squad that must handle this double burden can also be tracked there. Squad depth will be decisive in the coming weeks.
The ambitious group makes the path to the knockout stages a demanding but achievable task. The direct comparison with a titleholder like Crystal Palace offers the chance to prove their own level. The away games in difficult arenas will test the team's character.
For TSG, participation in the Europa League is the reward for a consistent performance after finishing fifth last season. Now the task is to build on this success on the European stage and stay in the competition as long as possible. The current Bundesliga standings from last season show that domestic competition remains strong, which makes the double burden even more challenging. The coming weeks will show if Hoffenheim can compete in both competitions.
