Palace v TSG Hoffenheim preview: kick-off time, team news and form

Crystal Palace host TSG Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park on Thursday 5th November, with kick-off at 5.45pm, in this season's Europa League league phase. It's a first-ever meeting between the two clubs on this stage, with The Eagles Beak describing it as "History Under the Lights" as Palace welcome the German side to south London for the first time (The Eagles Beak).

There's plenty riding on it. Palace sit 18th in the Premier League and the mood around the club has turned tense, with BBC Sport reporting that fan Ollie Thomas called this week's back-to-back home games against Hoffenheim and Liverpool "massive" (BBC Sport). The Eagles Beak go further, suggesting this could be a defining week for manager Pierre Sage, with progress and pressure both mentioned in the same breath (The Eagles Beak) (BBC Sport).

In the Europa League itself, Palace have made a reasonable start despite the wider struggles, picking up a win, a draw and a loss in their last three outings: a 4-0 win over Lech Poznan at home, before back-to-back away trips brought a 2-3 defeat at Lyon and a 2-2 draw at Besiktas. That leaves their recent Europa League form reading WLD. Hoffenheim's European form has been more mixed, with defeats to OFI Crete and Besiktas either side of a battling performance, before finishing with a strong 3-0 win over Lyon at home - their last three Europa League results reading LLW.

Away from Europe, Palace's form in all competitions has been difficult: their last five games have gone LDLWL, including a heavy defeat at Brighton and further losses to Newcastle and Tottenham in the Premier League, though there was a Carabao Cup win at Fulham in between. Hoffenheim, by contrast, arrive on the back of a WWWLL run in all competitions, with Bundesliga wins over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen sandwiching their Europa League win over Lyon, before a cup exit and a league defeat at Werder Bremen most recently.

In the Europa League standings, Palace currently sit 15th with four points from three games, just above Hoffenheim in 23rd on three points, meaning both sides will see this as an important opportunity to push up the table.

On the team news front, Crystal Palace's official club website has flagged updates on Timber and Strand Larsen ahead of the game (CPFC.co.uk), while CPFC.co.uk have also confirmed that the Selhurst Park turnstiles will open later than usual for this fixture (CPFC.co.uk), and have published their usual matchgoers' guide (CPFC.co.uk) and TV viewing information (CPFC.co.uk) for fans planning to follow the game. Sports Mole have also previewed the clash with their own team news and lineup predictions (Sports Mole).

You can follow all the action from Selhurst Park when Palace host Hoffenheim this Thursday, with kick-off at 5.45pm UK time.

Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.