Europa League
2026-10-22 - TSG Hoffenheim vs Lyon
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; UEFA Europa League: 3rd Round
SNP Arena – Sinsheim, Germany
Thursday, 22nd October 2026 - kickoff 21:00 CET
TSG Hoffenheim
TSG Hoffenheim have made a poor start in Europe, losing 2-0 away to OFI Crete before falling 2-3 at home to Besiktas.
Their recent form has been just as worrying, with four defeats in their last five matches across all competitions. TSG Hoffenheim are good in scoring, but concede too often to make those goals count.
The 2-3 loss to Besiktas was particularly frustrating. They found the net twice but still left empty-handed, and Lyon is a solid attacking side that can exploit similar defensive lapses.
However, perhaps the 1-2 away win against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga last weekend will give them confidence that they can finally do something positive in Europe.
Coach Christian Ilzer needs a more disciplined back line, especially after TSG Hoffenheim conceded an average of 2.4 goals per game over their last five matches.
Lyon
Lyon have taken six points from their opening two Europa League matches. They beat Anderlecht 1-2 away and then edged Crystal Palace 3-2 at home, showing they can score against different types of opponents.
Lyon have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions and look far more settled than TSG Hoffenheim at this stage.
The win over Crystal Palace was a good example of Lyon's attacking threat, although conceding twice means their defense is not beyond criticism.
Coach Paulo Fonseca will have to manage without Lois Openda, who suffered a fractured fibula, while Nicolas Tagliafico has been ruled out for several weeks with an injury.
Even with those absences, Lyon have scored in five consecutive matches and should create chances against TSG Hoffenheim, who have struggled to keep opponents out.
The Betting Verdict
I like backing the goals in this match. TSG Hoffenheim have been involved in high-scoring games and are giving up too many chances, while Lyon have scored in five straight matches.
I don't trust either defense enough to back a clean sheet, and this looks like a better bet than picking a winner, even though I believe Lyon are closer to winning this match at valuable odds.
The Pick :
TSG Hoffenheim 1-2 Lyon
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 1.50 with BetFred
