Hoffenheim must secure Europa League start in Heraklion

TSG Hoffenheim start in the Europa League 2026/27 with an away match against OFI Crete on Thursday in Heraklion. The goal is to mark the start with an exclamation point and pick up three points. After the 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart the team heads to Greece with a lot of confidence.

Confidence after Stuttgart win

Coach Christian Ilzer had the side win 2-1 against VfB Stuttgart last weekend. Adam Hložek scored twice and showed that he can also take on a central offensive role in the Europa League. This success should carry the Kraichgauers into the upcoming encounter.

Form of OFI Crete

The Greek cup winner OFI Crete most recently surprised Olympiakos Piraeus with a 1-0 victory. The team presents itself with a solid defence and also goes into the duel with confidence. For TSG this is the first competitive match against the club from Heraklion.

Since there have been no direct duels between the two sides so far, the match is difficult to predict. The lack of history makes any tactical assessment harder and increases the uncertainty for both parties.

At the Pankritio Stadium Hoffenheim can expect a special atmosphere, as the Cretans return after a long absence from European competition. The home crowd could further motivate the opponents.

Although TSG Hoffenheim brings more international experience, OFI Crete has shown that they can hold their own against established Greek teams. The challenge is to turn that experience into a positive result.

Can TSG Hoffenheim snatch three points from Crete despite the difficult conditions? The result of this opening match will lay the foundation for the rest of the campaign in the Europa League.