Hoffenheim begin their Europa League league-phase campaign with a trip to Crete on Thursday, facing OFI in Heraklion.
- Match: OFI Crete vs TSG Hoffenheim.
- Competition: Europa League league phase, matchday one.
- Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026.
- Kick-off: 18:45 local schedule time.
- Venue: Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion.
- Christian Ilzer leads Hoffenheim into the tie.
- Hoffenheim won two of eight league-phase matches in the 2024/25 Europa League and did not reach the play-offs.
- OFI have already beaten AEK Athens to win the Greek Super Cup this season.
- Nitro will show the match free-to-air, with coverage starting at 18:20. Marco Hagemann will commentate alongside Felix Kroos.
- RTL+ will carry the game via its paid streaming service.
What it changes in the Bundesliga week
The Crete fixture is Hoffenheim’s first European test of the new campaign and arrives before a demanding league-phase schedule. Ilzer’s side will also travel to Crystal Palace, while Olympique Lyon and Besiktas are among the visitors expected in Sinsheim.
OFI may appear one of the more manageable opponents on Hoffenheim’s list, but their Super Cup win over AEK is a clear early warning. Oliver Baumann and the travelling squad need a stable start after last season’s short European run.
