OFI Kreta's confidence tests TSG Hoffenheim in Europa League

On 15 September 2026, the cup‑winner and Supercup‑winner OFI Kreta, fresh from a historic season, travel to face TSG Hoffenheim in the Europa League. The Greek club, described as a confident Außenseiter from Heraklion, arrives in strong Form after two titles in recent Monaten.

Recent Phasen of Success

OFI Kreta, a Traditionsklub founded on 25 November 1925, has entered one of the most successful Phasen in its Vereinsgeschichte. In the past months the club secured two Titel – the Greek Cup after a 39‑year wait and the Supercup – cementing a remarkable chapter in its Geschichte.

League Momentum and Defensive Record

In the Greek Liga, OFI sits third after three wins from four games, including a 1‑0 victory over record‑champions Olympiakos Piräus last weekend. Remarkably, the team kept a clean sheet in seven of eight Pflichtspiele, underscoring its defensive resilience.

Christos Kontis, the 51‑year‑old manager appointed in October 2025, brings personal European experience. As a former player he featured in ten Champions‑League and eleven Europa‑League matches, and he guided OFI to the Supercup and Cup in his first season.

Key Players and German Links

The squad is heavily Greek – 23 of 33 players are from Greece. Striker Kenan Kodro, aged 33, scored the decisive goal against Olympiakos, while former Hertha midfielder Andreas Bouchalakis adds experience from seven seasons at Olympiakos. On the Hoffenheim side, Patrick Wimmer’s physicality is expected to test the opponent’s defence.

German connections run deep: Makana Baku, twin of RB Leipzig’s Ridle Baku, is on loan from Legia Warsaw, and former SC Freiburg star Fabian Gerber played for OFI between 2007 and 2009.

Match Details and Broadcast

The encounter will be the first German opponent for OFI in the Europa League phase and is scheduled for 18:45 on the Audiostream at sportschau.de. The match promises more than a home‑advantage in Heraklion; it offers a clash of styles and a test of Hoffenheim’s new signings.

Looking ahead, OFI’s Europa League journey continues with upcoming ties against Bayer Leverkusen, RSC Anderlecht, and Lech Poznań at home, and away trips to Stade Rennes, Hapoel Beer Sheva, Benfica Lisbon and Sturm Graz. The club’s rise signals a shift in Greek football’s presence on the European stage.