Hoffenheim host Ligue 1 leaders Lyon as Ilzer warns: TSG chase first Europa League points
Hoffenheim are still pointless in the Europa League after two defeats and host Olympique Lyon at 9 p.m. CET. Coach Christian Ilzer called the French leaders "extremely dangerous."
Archive image · Photo: Simon Hofmann / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Hoffenheim host Olympique Lyon on the third matchday of the Europa League league phase (9 p.m. CET). The German side have yet to score a point in the competition after losing 2-0 at OFI Crete and 3-2 at home to Besiktas. Lyon top Ligue 1 and have won both of their Europa League games under coach Paulo Fonseca.
Coach Christian Ilzer, who turned 49 on Wednesday, paid tribute to the opponent: "They have a very experienced coach who also knows how to show the necessary tactical flexibility." Referring to Lyon's quick transitions, he said: "That makes them extremely dangerous."
Hoffenheim are buoyed by last weekend's 2-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach, their first victory since Sept. 12. "That did us good, both in sporting and emotional terms," Ilzer said. He can call on every player who featured in Mönchengladbach.