TSG Hoffenheim produced a statement performance in the UEFA Europa League on 23 October 2026, sweeping aside Lyon 3-0 at the PreZero Arena. Andrej Kramaric scored twice and Maximilian Beier added the other as the German club combined ruthless finishing with a disciplined defensive display to claim all three points.

Match overview

Hoffenheim set the tempo from the first whistle and were rewarded for their aggressive approach when Kramaric opened the scoring inside the opening quarter of an hour. The home side pressed high, forced Lyon into hurried clearances, and repeatedly attacked the space behind the French side’s full-backs. Lyon grew into the contest after the break and enjoyed longer spells of possession, but they struggled to turn that control into clear chances. Hoffenheim’s second goal early in the second half effectively broke the visitors’ resistance, and a late third gave the scoreline the emphatic look their overall performance deserved.

Key moments

• 18th minute – Kramaric opens the scoring: Beier’s pressure forced a loose pass in Lyon’s build-up, and Kramaric pounced on the loose ball before firing a low finish beyond Lucas Perri.
• 41st minute – Baumann denies Lyon: Corentin Tolisso found space at the edge of the box, but Oliver Baumann reacted well to push his curling effort around the post.
• 54th minute – Beier doubles the lead: Anton Stach threaded a pass through the Lyon back line, and Beier held his composure to finish across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
• 78th minute – Kramaric seals it: Hoffenheim broke at speed after a Lyon corner, with Kramaric arriving in the box to convert a low cross and complete his brace.

Tactical story

Hoffenheim lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape that became a aggressive pressing unit whenever Lyon tried to play out from the back. The midfield pair of Florian Grillitsch and Anton Stach screened the central areas well, while the front four rotated constantly to close passing lanes. That structure forced Lyon to play wider than they would have liked, and the visitors’ most dangerous moments came from individual runs rather than sustained team moves.

Lyon’s 4-3-3 looked more threatening after half-time, with Rayan Cherki drifting inside to create overloads in central areas. However, Hoffenheim’s back line stayed compact, defended the penalty box well, and limited Lyon to efforts from distance. When the German side won the ball back, they transitioned quickly, and their third goal was a perfect example of the counter-attacking threat they carried throughout the night.

Standout players

Kramaric was the clear headline act, scoring twice and leading the line with intelligence and composure. Beier’s energy and movement caused problems all evening, and his goal was a reward for a selfless defensive shift. Baumann made important saves at key moments, none more so than his first-half stop from Tolisso. For Lyon, Tolisso was the most composed performer in midfield, while Perri prevented the defeat from becoming heavier with several sharp saves.

What the result means for the Europa League table

The three points strengthen Hoffenheim’s position in the league-phase standings and give them a valuable head-to-head advantage should the teams finish level later in the competition. Lyon, meanwhile, are left to regroup after a result that exposes the gap between their possession and their cutting edge in the final third. With the league phase continuing, both sides will know that this was more than a single night’s work: it was a result that could shape the qualification picture for weeks to come.