On Thursday, starting with 17:55, the Red Star Belgrade – Hoffenheim match will be played, within the Europa League group stage. In the round, Hoffenheim won 2-0 at home, the only previous direct meeting, through the goals scored by Baumgartner and Dabbur. Besides the Red Star Belgrade and Hoffenheim, Liberec and Ghent are also part of group L.
The Red Star Belgrade has a series of 8 consecutive victories in all competitions, but it has not met an opponent of Hoffenheim’s caliber. The Germans prevailed quite easily in the tour, and now they are already qualified for the next phase of the competition. If TSG has 12 points in the group standings, Red Star Belgrade ticked 9. In the Serbian championship, Dejan Stankovic’s students have 14 victories and two draws in the first 16 stages, setting a 9-point lead over rival Partizan Belgrade.
Hoffenheim comes after a 1-1 draw with Mainz in the Bundesliga and is undefeated in the last 3 matches. In Group L of the Europa League, TSG has a maximum score after 4 rounds, a 13-1 goal difference and only a 0-3 defeat in Belgrade would send it to second place. In the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim has only 9 points, ranks 12th and is closer to relegation than the top spots. However, coach Sebastian Hoeness announced that he will send the best 11 possible with the Red Star, aiming to maintain the first position in the Europa League.
Hoffenheim returned to the European Cups after a break;
Steaua Rosie Belgrade has a series of 8 consecutive victories in all competitions;
In the tour, Hoffenheim won 2-0 at home;
Red Star Belgrade: Borjan; Gajic, Pankov, Milunovic, Degenek, Vukanovic; Nikolic, Petrovic, Ivanic; Falcinelli, Ben
Hoffenheim: Baumann; Bogarde, Kasim, Nordtveit, Skov; Rudy, Vogt, Geiger, Gacinovic; Beier, De Mello
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,56
