Hoffenheim arrive in Crete after beating Stuttgart, with Christian Ilzer balancing a European tie against Sunday’s Bundesliga trip to Paderborn. OFI Crete have conceded only once in eight competitive matches this season.
- Ilzer did not hold a final training session on site and gave little away on selection.
- Koki Machida returned from an ACL injury as a substitute against Stuttgart and is pushing for more minutes.
- If Machida starts in central defence, Albian Hajdari could be rested or moved to left-back. Mats Rots is another left-sided option.
- Leon Avdullahu and Wouter Burger are expected to stay in midfield.
- Adam Daghim has impressed on the left and offers pace behind the defence. Conté could start on the right, while Alexander Prass Wimmer may again be used from the bench. Nathan De Cat is also available.
- Andrej Kramaric, Fisnik Asllani and Max Moerstedt are competing for a first start. Adam Hlozek scored twice against Stuttgart and Tim Lemperle’s pressing remains valuable.
- OFI coach Christos Kontis, 51, has guided the Heraklion club through its most successful spell, with Greek Cup and Super Cup wins.
- OFI reached the Europa League play-offs by beating CSKA Sofia 3-0 and 2-0.
- Former Mainz forward Kenan Kodro, now 33, scored in OFI’s recent 1-0 league win at Olympiakos. Andreas Bouchalakis, formerly of Hertha Berlin, and Greece international Athanasios Androutsos are key central midfielders.
What it changes in the Bundesliga week
Ilzer may initially keep the Stuttgart-winning rhythm rather than rotate heavily before Paderborn. Changes could come later, with Machida, Kramaric, Asllani and Moerstedt among the players pressing their cases.
OFI are likely to use a 3-4-2-1 shape. Their midfield pair of Androutsos and Bouchalakis has set the tempo, while Kodro remains the main reference point up front. Hoffenheim’s centre-backs must protect space behind them after turnovers.
Ilzer sees OFI’s collective defending as the central problem. “They have a real commitment to defending together,” he said. Hoffenheim want quick combinations, switches of play, runs in behind and aggressive counter-pressing to disrupt that structure.
The warning is clear before the Paderborn fixture. OFI break quickly after regaining possession and have the technical quality to hurt opponents. “It will be a dangerous match,” Ilzer said.
