OFI prepares for historic Europa League debut against Hoffenheim

OFI Crete is preparing for its first-ever appearance in the League Phase of a European competition, scheduled to face Hoffenheim at home this Thursday. This milestone follows the team's domestic league match against Olympiacos at Karaiskakis Stadium on September 14, where the squad subsequently underwent recovery training at the VAK facility. While Marinakis continues his individual training program, Sielis has returned to full team training and is available for the upcoming European fixture.

Head coach Christos Kontis addressed the media ahead of the match, emphasizing the team's serious ambitions. He noted that despite the prestige of playing against a high-level opponent like Hoffenheim, the goal is not merely to participate but to collect points throughout the eight-game series to secure qualification for the next phase. Kontis highlighted that the club views this as a significant opportunity to prove they earned their place through their efforts, including their recent cup final victories.