EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - CRYSTAL PALACE VS HOFFENHEIM

Europa League

2026-11-05 - Crystal Palace vs Hoffenheim

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Crystal Palace v Hoffenheim
Football: UEFA Champions League Match Day 4
Thursday 5th November 2026 - Kick Off 5:45pm
This game is live on TV

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Crystal Palace

After guiding Crystal Palace into the League Cup Quarter Final, Pierre Sage would have been asking his squad to weather an early storm at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Instead, Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off inside 15 minutes and it is no surprise that Crystal Palace were well beaten on the day.

The pressure is once again building on Pierre Sage and Crystal Palace have two games coming up at Selhurst Park before the November international break and the manager will need a positive response. First up is the next Europa League game with Crystal Palace in 13th place in the standings having secured 4 points after opening up with a win over Lech Poznan at home before an away defeat and draw at Lyon and Besiktas respectively.

Crystal Palace have won 1 of the last 6 games in all competitions following the defeat in North London on Saturday, but Pierre Sage may take some confidence from the fact his best results have been earned in Cup settings. The Eagles have played 7 games in all competitions at Selhurst Park and have won 3 and lost 4 of those, while they have not suffered consecutive defeats here this season.

Quinten Timber and Jorgen Strand Larsen could be available, while Jean-Philippe Mateta is available for this European tie as Crystal Palace appeal for his domestic suspension to be overturned. Ismaila Sarr has been a big miss and is hoping to return after the next international break.

Hoffenheim

They have been playing in the German Bundesliga for a number of consecutive seasons, but Hoffenheim have not really found a consistent spot in a portion of the standings. That has meant some very good years where they have earned a spot in European Football, but others when they have been perhaps flirting with potential relegation.

This looks like it could be another season when Hoffenheim are operating at the wrong end of the table after a defeat this past weekend dropped them down into 12th place in the domestic standings. The side are back in the Europa League after missing out on Europe completely last season, but Hoffenheim failed to get out of the new League Phase of the competition in 2024/25 and they have lost 2 of the opening 3 fixtures in this campaign.

Hoffenheim had lost 4 games in a row in all competitions either side of the last international break, but looked to have found their feet last month when winning 3 in a row. They are clearly a streaky team and failure to win either of the last 2 fixtures, including a 2-0 defeat at Werder Bremen this past weekend, has knocked the Hoffenheim confidence again.

Head to Head

This is the first time these two clubs are meeting in a competitive fixture.

Prediction

Both of these clubs are operating at the wrong end of the English Premier League and German Bundesliga respectively and that means the managers are likely going to have one eye on the upcoming League fixtures before the November international break.

You have to assume there is some value in looking for a confidence boosting victory in the Europa League as both Crystal Palace and Hoffenheim bid to Qualify for the Knock Out Rounds.

Pierre Sage's team are hosting and that may give Crystal Palace the edge, especially as the performances under this current manager have been better in Cup competitions. The Eagles have played twice at Selhurst Park in the League Cup/Europa League and won both matches very comfortably.

Nothing will be easy about this fixture after another Premier League defeat, but it does help that they are facing a Hoffenheim team who have struggled for early season form.

Two years ago, Hoffenheim finished 27th in the Europa League table, which was a huge disappointment, and they have already suffered defeats to OFI Crete and Besiktas in this League Phase.

Hoffenheim have been a mixed bag in the opening 3 Europa League games played and they may just be vulnerable enough to allow Crystal Palace to do enough to earn the three points.

The Pick :

Crystal Palace 2-0 Hoffenheim

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Crystal Palace to Win at 1.91 with BetFred