Hoffenheim vs Lyon is the match you don't want to miss this Thursday as both sides aim to recover from a defeat in the previous round.
Inconsistent is the best word to describe Hoffenheim's current form. The team's last back-to-back wins date back to mid-August and the first couple of games they played this season. Since then, the Kraichgauers have achieved nothing to be proud of.
Lyon also suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks, with three consecutive matches without a win. And it all began with the huge upset against Besiktas in the previous Europa League round. Nevertheless, the Kids picked up two wins at the start and their position is still fairly safe.
The French side has struggled against German teams in recent years but Hoffenheim seem like a suitable opponent to improve that record. Lyon won only two of their last 11 games against teams from this country.
How the bookies view it: As close as it can get
The odds can hardly get any closer than this. Bookmakers found it hard to name a proper favourite. Betano gave Hoffenheim 13/8 to win on Thursday, while the visitors sit at 3/2 right now. This means that Lyon have a slight advantage in odds, while the draw is available at 27/10.
Recent head to head: 10 goals in two matches
Hoffenheim and Lyon last met six years ago and produced a couple of thrillers in the Champions League. Both matches ended level, with a 2-2 in France and a 3-3 draw in Germany.
Players to watch: One of Europa League's all-timers
Lyon have already had 11 different scorers this season, which makes it hard to single out a good pick ahead of this fixture. Alexandre Lacazette is the most obvious choice, but his form this season is far from anything we have seen from him in the past. Nevertheless, the Lyon native has scored 24 goals in 51 appearances in the Europa League in the past and should always be considered for a bet.
Probable line-ups
Hoffenheim: Baumann, Chaves, Stach, N'Soki, Gendrey, Grillitsch, Bischof, Prass, Kramaric, Bulter, Hlozek
Lyon: Perri, Maitland-Niles, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Tagliafico, Veretout, Matic, Tolisso, Cherki, Lacazette, Fofana
Anything else catch the eye?
Lyon's last few performances were far from showing the team's full potential. We've seen what this squad is capable of over the last month and a half, and before the three bad results they had achieved five wins in a row.
It's hard to peg them as favourites and Hoffenham will definitely present a challenge. But at the same time, we don't expect the German team to be able to get more than a point out of this clash.
In this case, we will opt for a more unconventional market, which luckily is available at any bookmaker. Pick the Draw No Bet option as it adds a layer of safety in case of a draw. Otherwise, the goal markets also look promising as Hoffenheim only failed to score once at home this season, in their most recent game against St Pauli last week.
This UEFA Europa League match between Hoffenheim and Lyon will be played on Nov 7, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Hoffenheim vs Lyon prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
In December 2020 we sadly 
