The visitors can take advantage of the hosts’ crisis: Hoffenheim vs Lyon prediction
The third-round match of the Europa League league phase between Hoffenheim and Lyon will take place on October 22, 2026, at PreZero Arena. The German club lost both of its opening matches and remains pointless, while the French side has collected the maximum six points. The teams’ current form also favors the visitors: Lyon have won four of their last five matches, while Hoffenheim continue to struggle badly in defense.
Hoffenheim: a poor start and constant problems at the back
Christian Ilzer’s team have endured a difficult start to the season. In the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim lost four of their first five matches, conceding three goals in each of those defeats. The situation in the Europa League is no better: the Germans unexpectedly lost 2-0 to OFI before suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Beşiktaş. Only in their most recent league fixture did they manage to lift the mood slightly with a 2-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Their home record also offers little cause for optimism. Hoffenheim have lost three of their four matches on home soil this season, with their only victory coming against Stuttgart, 2-1. At the same time, the team consistently creates chances and scores twice in many home games, so their attack should not be written off entirely. However, the absences of Nathan De Cat, Albian Hajdari and Patrick Wimmer make the task even more difficult.
Lyon: significantly better form and results
Paulo Fonseca’s team, by contrast, have made an excellent start to the season. After seven Ligue 1 rounds, Lyon have collected 14 points and sit among the leaders, while in their latest league match they defeated Nice 2-1 after coming from behind following an early goal conceded. Overall, the French side have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Lyon are also unbeaten in the Europa League so far. They first defeated Anderlecht 2-1 before edging Crystal Palace 3-2 in a high-scoring encounter. Even without the injured Loïs Openda, their attacking unit retains a strong balance: Pavel Shultz, Ernest Nuamah and Kaito Nakamura can apply constant pressure, while Tessmann and Tolisso help control the midfield.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Hoffenheim have lost both of their opening Europa League matches.
- The German club have lost six of their nine official matches this season.
- Lyon have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
An open game should favor the visitors: Hoffenheim vs Lyon prediction
Hoffenheim can find the net thanks to their home attacking intent and individual quality in the final third, but their defense breaks down far too often. Against a team that is comfortable in transition and knows how to punish gaps, this could become the decisive issue.
Lyon currently look more stable in virtually every aspect: they are collecting points more consistently, making fewer defensive errors and handling the closing stages of matches with greater confidence. Given the hosts’ open style, this could well be a high-scoring contest, but the visitors have more arguments in their favor when it comes to securing the win.
