Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham confirm lineups, starting 11, team news, injuries for Europa League clash: Austin, Richarlison start

Tottenham will look to shake off their Premier League malaise and take a big step towards qualification for the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds when they travel to Hoffenheim on Thursday.

Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Everton saw Ange Postecoglou’s side finish 15th in England’s top flight.

Their form in Europe has also fallen away. Spurs have taken two points from the last nine bids, having won each of their first three games in the league stage. That slump leaves them just outside the top eight on goal difference, with only those teams automatically advancing to the round of 16 and avoiding the playoff round.

That is the limit of Hoffenheim’s ambitions. A tough season at home and abroad means Christian Ilzer’s side Spurs are 15th in the Bundesliga and 26th in the Europa League table, needing points to get into the playoff places.

CLOCK: UEFA Europa League with a FREE trial of Paramount+ in the US | A new era of UEFA Europa League in Australia, only on Stan Sport

Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham lineups, starting 11, team news

Adam Hlozek and Andrej Kramaric was in the goals at the weekend as a much-needed 3-1 win over Holstein Kiel moved Hoffenheim out of the bottom three.

Midfielder Anton Stach is back from a thigh problem but former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak keeps a list of absentee that also contains Florian Grillitsch, Grischa Promel, Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter.

Hoffenheim’s starting lineup (4-5-1, right to left): Baumann (GK) — Gendrey, Arthur Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass — Geiger, Stach — Kaderabek, Kramaric, Hlozek — Moerstedt

Hoffenheim substitutes: Philipp, Hranac, Gendrey, Micheler, Kalambayi, Chaves, Behrens, Mokwa, Erlein, Duric

Damaged: Kabak, Grillitsch, Promel, Bebou, Bulter.
Suspended: No

MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

Ben Davies’ The return at the weekend saw Postecoglous switch to a back three at Everton. Expect the experienced Wales defender to play in a more conventional back-four against Hoffenheim, although it will be interesting whether he or Archie Gray starting at left back.

Brandon Austin making his second senior start in goal due to Antonin Kinsky not being registered for the Europa League and the continued absence of both Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster.

Yves Bissouma, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke were all ruled out at Everton and missing here, but Richarlison leading a largely strong attacking unit.

Tottenham’s starting line-up (4-3-3, right to left): Austin (GK) – Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray – Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison – Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son

Tottenham substitutes: Forster, Whiteman, Hardy, Cassanova, Ajayi, Olusesi, Moore, Lankshear

Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham live stream, tv channel

Here’s how to watch this Europa League match across select areas in the world’s biggest regions: