Belgian side Anderlecht will hope to confirm their automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16 when they host Hoffenheim at Lotto Park on Thursday.
The home team are seventh with 14 points and a win on Thursday would secure automatic progression, whereas the visitors' 3-2 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on January 23 left them 28th with six points and on the brink of elimination given they are three points and four places from the round of 16 playoffs.
Match preview
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Anderlecht were beaten 2-0 by Viktoria Plzen last Thursday, a game in which they created no big chances, faced four and conceded in the third minute of the first half.
The hosts occupy one of eight automatic qualifications spots but could be caught by six of the first seven teams outside the top eight.
Manager David Hubert's side are fourth in the Belgian top flight with 39 points after 23 matchweeks, and they currently occupy one of six championship playoff spots.
The Purple and White have won five of their last seven games in all competitions – losing two – and have in fact only been beaten in one of their past 11 matches in the Europa League, winning six in that time.
Hubert's team boast a strong record at home given they have achieved victory in nine of their 12 most recent outings at Lotto Park and are also unbeaten in their last six games at home in the Europa League.
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Opponents Hoffenheim created enough chances to win against Tottenham considering they produced over 2.5 xG and six big chances, but their defence proved to be their undoing once again.
The Bundesliga club have conceded 11 times in their past four fixtures and 37 goals in the league, with only the bottom three in the German top flight posting a worse defensive record so far.
Head coach Christian Ilzer's side are three points from the teams ranked 24th to 21st in the Europa League table, and they also have the joint worst goal difference of the teams ranked 28th or above.
Hoffenheim have won one and drawn one of their last three games in all competitions, but they were winless in their prior nine matches – succumbing to defeat six times – and have only triumphed in one of their past nine Europa League fixtures.
Ilzer will be alarmed by his side's performances on the road this season, as while the beat Holstein Kiel 3-1 on January 18 in their most recent away game, they lost seven and drew five of their previous 12 away matches.
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Team News
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Anderlecht will head into their clash without goalkeeper Colin Coosemans, while centre-back Jan Vertonghen is a doubt.
Those injuries could mean shot-stopper Mads Juhl Kikkenborg will be shielded by a back three of Jan-Carlo Simic, Leander Dendoncker and Ludwig Augustinsson.
Midfielders Mats Rits and Theo Leoni are likely to start in midfield given Majeed Ashimeru is a doubt.
Forward Kasper Dolberg and Samuel Edozie have been ruled out, so perhaps Tristan Degreef and Nilson Angulo will flank striker Luis Vazquez.
Meanwhile, it is difficult to predict what XI Hoffenheim will play on Thursday given their extensive injury list which includes centre-backs Christopher Lenz and Ozan Kabak, as well as goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Luca Philipp is almost certain to start in goal, and he may be protected by centre-backs Arthur Chaves and Kevin Akpoguma.
Midfielder Anton Stach has been a regular in the XI, and he could be partnered by Finn Ole Becker, especially as the likes of Diadie Samassekou and Grischa Promel will not be in the matchday squad.
Andrej Kramaric is likely to feature in the forward line alongside attackers Max Moerstedt, Tom Bischof and Adam Hlozek considering Ihlas Bebou and Haris Tabakovic are unavailable.
Anderlecht possible starting lineup:
Kikkenborg; Simic, Dendoncker, Augustinsson; Foket, Rits, Leoni, Maamar; Degreef, Vazquez, Angulo
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Philipp; Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass; Stach, Becker; Hlozek, Bischof, Moerstedt; Kramaric
We say: Anderlecht 2-1 Hoffenheim
Anderlecht should be considered strong favourites considering their strong record at home, as well as the fact the visitors are in the midst of an injury crisis.
Hoffenheim may be forced to attack aggressively given they must win if they are to have a chance of reaching the round of 16, and if they were to do so, they may leave space in behind their defensive line for the hosts to exploit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
