Hoffenheim - Lyon

Hoffenheim face a defensive challenge as they look to arrest a turbulent run of form that has seen them struggle for consistency in recent weeks. The German side hosts Lyon at the SNP Arena on 22 October 2026 for this Europa League matchday 3 encounter, hoping to recover from a narrow 3-2 home defeat to Besiktas in their last continental outing. With key defensive absences including Albian Hajdari and Patrick Wimmer, the expected XI led by Andrej Kramaric will need to find a clinical edge to overcome the visitors.

Lyon arrive in a more buoyant mood, fresh off a 2-1 victory over Nice and a hard-fought 3-2 win against Crystal Palace in Europe. The visitors, missing Ikoma Lois Openda, have shown resilience in their recent domestic and continental fixtures. History suggests a high-scoring affair, as the two sides have shared the spoils in each of their three previous meetings, including a 2-2 draw in November 2024.