1899 Hoffenheim v Lyon: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups & team news

Hoffenheim are pointless after two Europa League games and Lyon arrive with six from six. Three meetings between these sides have produced three draws.

Lauren Lister

Published

Wed 21 Oct, 23:07

Updated

Thu 22 Oct, 21:58

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This preview was written before kick-off and has not been changed. The result, tables and line-ups on this page are as they stand now.

Hoffenheim need a result, and quickly.

The hosts have lost both of their Europa League games, a 2-0 defeat away at OFI followed by a 3-2 home loss to Beşiktaş, and they sit pointless as the third round of fixtures arrives.

Lyon, by contrast, have six points from two games and started the night eighth in the table, inside the places that send teams straight through to the last 16 play-offs.

It is early days in a league phase with plenty of games to go, but defeat here would leave Hoffenheim with real work to do just to stay in the conversation.

The visitors, meanwhile, could make life very comfortable for themselves with a third win on the spin.

1899 Hoffenheim

3–0

Full time

Lyon

Thu 22 Oct, 20:00•SNP Arena

Hoffenheim's story so far is one of goals at both ends. They scored twice against Beşiktaş last time out but shipped three, taking their total conceded to five in two games, an average of 2.5 per match.

The numbers behind it are not kind either, with the supplied data putting their expected goals against at 3.39 per game across those two outings.

Lyon have been far more convincing. They won 2-1 away at Anderlecht on the opening night and then beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at home last week.

That is five scored and three conceded, and two of those five goals arrived inside the first 15 minutes of a game.

Nothing in the supplied data points to wholesale changes.

Hoffenheim have no points to protect and every reason to field their strongest available side, and the injury list rather than the coach is likely to dictate who plays.

Lyon turned out on a Thursday and then, as far as the supplied fixtures show, have had a full week to prepare, so a settled side is the sensible expectation.

A small tweak or two would not be a surprise, but with six points banked the visitors could afford to be a touch more relaxed about it than their hosts.

Last 6 · all competitions we cover · most recent left

1899 Hoffenheim

WLLLLWW2 D0 L4

Lyon

WWLWWDW4 D1 L1

Europa League · 2026/27 · UEFA Europa LeagueLive snapshot

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
12	NEC Nijmegen	4	2	1	1	-1	7
13	Lyon	4	2	1	1	-1	7
14	AZ Alkmaar	4	2	0	2	+3	6
15	Anderlecht	4	2	0	2	+3	6
16	OFI	4	2	0	2	+1	6
17	Rennes	4	1	3	0	+1	6
18	Omonia Nicosia	4	2	0	2	-1	6
19	Torreense	4	2	0	2	-2	6
20	Real Sociedad	4	1	2	1	+5	5
21	Crystal Palace	4	1	2	1	+3	5
22	Sparta Praha	4	1	1	2	0	4
23	1899 Hoffenheim	4	1	1	2	0	4
24	Sturm Graz	4	1	1	2	-3	4

Europa League

Last 3 meetings · most recent first

1899 Hoffenheim wins

Draws

Lyon wins

Goals · 1899 Hoffenheim / Lyon

7 / 7

1899 Hoffenheim4-4-2

1GO. Baumann
34DV. Coufal
2DR. Hranáč
5DO. Kabak
39DM. Rots
27MA. Kramarić
20MB. Conté
7ML. Avdullahu
22MA. Prass
19FT. Lemperle
14FA. Daghim

Manager · C. Ilzer

Lyon4-3-3

1GD. Greif
37DSteeve Kango
22DClinton Mata
20DF. Bacher
21DR. Kluivert
2MM. Bidstrup
6MT. Tessmann
99MN. Nartey
26FK. Boudache
45FR. Himbert
11FKeito Nakamura

Manager · Paulo Fonseca

Kick-off at the SNP Arena is at 20:00 BST on Thursday 22 October 2026.

The UK broadcaster for this fixture has not been confirmed, and this page will be updated closer to kick-off once the rights holder and channel are known.

If level after 90 minutes, the points are shared.

Hoffenheim and Lyon have met three times, in the Champions League in 2018 and the Europa League in 2024, and all three ended in draws.
Those three games averaged 4.67 goals, and both sides scored in every one of them.
The last meeting was a 2-2 draw at the PreZero Arena in November 2024, in the Europa League.
Lyon's two wins this season have come with two goals away from home and three at home, while Hoffenheim have yet to keep a clean sheet.

Our headline tip✗ Miss

Both teams to score

Hoffenheim are leaky and Lyon are scoring freely, which points one way for the goals market. Three previous meetings have all featured goals at both ends, the hosts have conceded in each of their two games, and Lyon have scored in each of theirs. The result is harder to call, because Hoffenheim are pointless and the form says Lyon, yet the home side are the bookmakers' narrow favourites and have a long record of stubborn draws against this opponent. A shared scoring draw feels the most natural fit, and the safer angle is goals at both ends rather than a firm view on the winner. Hoffenheim at the SNP Arena may finally find a way to stop the slide... or at least slow it down.

Our predicted score1899 Hoffenheim 2–2 LyonFinal score 3–0✗ Score missed

✗ Headline tip missed

TIP 01 · Match result✗ Miss

The draw

All three previous meetings between these clubs ended level, and the goal averages for both sides in this competition are close. Hoffenheim are desperate for a first point, while Lyon have momentum, which tends to pull a game towards the middle. A 3/1 price on the draw is decent value, though the risk is that one side's defence cracks first.

TIP 02 · Correct score✗ Miss

Correct score 2-2

The last meeting finished 2-2 and the two before it were 3-3 and 2-2, so the scoreline has form. Hoffenheim average 2.5 conceded per game and Lyon 2.5 scored. At 9/1 it is a speculative punt, and a single goal either way ruins it.

TIP 03 · Over 2.5 goals✓ Hit

Over 2.5 goals

The previous three meetings averaged 4.67 goals, and Hoffenheim's two games this season have produced five goals against. Lyon's matches have averaged four goals in total. At 4/9 there is not much juice, but the data leans towards it. The risk is a cagey night if Lyon go ahead early.

TIP 04 · Anytime goalscorer✓ Hit

A. Kramarić to score

Kramarić is in the Hoffenheim squad and likely to be the focal point of the hosts' attack, with chances expected to come in a game they will dominate for the ball. They averaged 60 per cent possession over their two games. At around 6/4 the price is fair, and it is a bet that depends on him starting.

TIP 05 · Double chance✓ Hit

1899 Hoffenheim or the draw

Hoffenheim are the narrow favourites at Evens and have never lost to Lyon in three meetings. Covering the draw takes out the most likely way for the hosts to disappoint again. At 3/10 it is short, so it works better as a building block than a standalone bet.

Build the 1899 Hoffenheim v Lyon bet

BetFootball Builder · 3 Legs✗ Miss

1899 Hoffenheim or the draw

✓ Hit

Double chance

This anchors the builder by giving Hoffenheim the benefit of the head-to-head record, where they have not lost. It sits comfortably alongside a goals leg because the draw is covered.

Both teams to score

✗ Miss

Both teams to score

Both sides have scored and conceded in every game so far, and all three meetings between them featured goals at both ends. It pairs neatly with the cover on the result, since a draw or narrow home win is likely to include a goal for each.

A. Kramarić to score

✓ Hit

Anytime goalscorer

Kramarić gives the builder a bigger price, and if Hoffenheim are to score against a Lyon side leaking goals, he is the obvious man to be involved. The corner picture also helps, as the hosts average 7.5 corners to the visitors' 4.5, which suggests sustained home pressure.

1899 Hoffenheim v Lyon: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups & team news

What is at stake in Sinsheim?

How did they get here?

Will either side rotate?

Line-ups

Where to watch

Cup stats and history

Both teams to score

The draw

Correct score 2-2

Over 2.5 goals

A. Kramarić to score

1899 Hoffenheim or the draw

Build the 1899 Hoffenheim v Lyon bet