West Ham will look to book their place in the Europa League final this Wednesday when they travel to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their semi-final UEL tie.
Venue: Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt)
Key Statistics
Eintracht Frankfurt have won just one of their last ten home games in all competitions (D4, L5).
They have not lost in the Europa League this season (W6, D5).
They have won all nine previous UEFA ties in which they recorded an away victory in the first leg.
The hosts have only lost one of their 12 semi-final home matches in history (W9, D2)
West Ham have lost six of their last seven away games (W1).
Three of their last five UEL away games have seen them win by at least a two-goal cushion though (D1, L1).
The visitors have not scored over one goal in their last four games.
Head to head
The 2-1 win by Frankfurt is the only head-to-head meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Frankfurt: L-W-D-L-W
West Ham: L-L-L-D-W
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt will look to complete the job they began in London last week when they welcome West Ham United to Germany this Thursday.
The hosts come into this leg with the upper hand after a 2-1 win in the first leg thanks to goals from Ansgar Knauff and Daichi Kamada.
They are looking to book their first European final appearance in 42 years and will bank on their passionate fans to see them through this tie.
However, their home form has been woeful recently, as they have just one win at home in their last ten tries.
But all they need is to avoid a defeat here, and that is something they have managed in all 11 of their UEL games so far this term (W6, D5) despite their rocky home form of late.
History now beckons for them as they aim to go one step further than their UEL semi-final exit of 2018/19 (vs Chelsea). But Adi Hütter’s side have won just one of their last six UEL home games (D4, L1), and so a nervy night may be in store in Frankfurt.
Possible Frankfurt starting line-up
Kevin Trapp, Almamy Toure, Makoto Hasebe, Obite Dicka; Timothy Chandler, Ajdin Hrustic, Filip Kostic, Kristijan Jakic; Ragnar Ache, Jens Hauge, Rafael Santos Borre.
Injured: Martin Hinteregger, Christopher Lenz, Jesper Lindstrom, Diant Ramaj
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
West Ham
West Ham’s fine season could end in a lot of disappointment unless they can overturn a one-goal deficit in this fixture.
The Hammers have endured a poor run of form recently, winning just two of their last nine games in all competitions.
They come into this tie on the back of a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League, leaving their chances of qualifying for the Europa League in tatters and all but ending their UCL chances next season too.
And so, winning the Europa League this season will be their only route to the UCL or UEL next season. After the hard work they have put in so far this term, they will be desperate to ensure that they at least reap something from their efforts. And so, they will come into this tie with the desire and belief that they can get a result.
They will also believe that if they can beat Lyon 3-0 in the last round, they can also get a result against their hosts who are struggling at home. However, they have a poor away form given that they have just one away win in their last six away trips.
Possible West Ham starting line-up
Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Aaron Cresswell; Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma; Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio.
Injured: Ben Johnson, Angelo Ogbonna
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Frankfurt 1-3 West Ham
