West Ham United continue their early-season workout as they face Maltese side Birkirkara in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie at Upton Park on Thursday. The Hammers have already played two competitive games this season as they knocked out Andorran side Lusitanos in the first qualifying round. The two sides have never met before.
West Ham recorded a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win over Lusitans, with a 3-0 win at home and a 1-0 success in Andorra. Boss Slaven Bilic didn't even bother to manage the team in the first leg but was on the touchline for the second leg. Last weekend the Hammers played a friendly match against Peterborough United, which ended 3-3. The last presence for West Ham in an European competition was back in 2006 when they featured in the UEFA Cup. Back then they were knocked out by Italian outfit Palermo, 4-0 on aggregate. They have won the European Cup Winner's Cup all the way back in 1965.
Birkirkara recorded a 3-1 aggregate win over Armenian side Ulisses in the first round, with a goalless draw at home and an impressive 3-1 away win. They finished third in the domestic league last season but won the Maltese FA Trophy with a 2-0 triumph in the final against league winners Hibernians. West Ham's Diafra Sakho is suspended after his red card in the second leg against Lusitans. The Maltese side have a famous player in their ranks, 36-year-old Italian striker Fabrizio Miccoli, who signed for them this summer.
Probable line-ups:
West Ham: Randolph - O'Brien, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell - Amalfitano, Noble, Poyet - Jarvis, Zarate, Lee
Birkirkara: Atkpan - Mazzetti, Vukanac, Fenech, Camenzuli - Zerafa, Z. Muscat, R. Muscat - Miccoli, Murga, Liliu
My prediction: West Ham to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
West Ham win - 1.030 Draw - 15.00 Birkirara win - 26.00
Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
West Ham is big favourite to slam Birkirkara.West Ham has good,experienced team and they should have no troubles to win this match. My prediction is a comfortable 3-0 win for West Ham.Birkirkara must be aware of Zarate,he really is big threat,especially when he has some space.
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sharpe
8 years ago
Will be really tough this season for West Ham and in fact I'm expecting the team to face the danger of the relegation. Every English mid table team who played in Europa League in the last seasons was just awful back in the Premier League, especially if they reach the group stages of the tournament. Too many games and...
Will be really tough this season for West Ham and in fact I'm expecting the team to face the danger of the relegation. Every English mid table team who played in Europa League in the last seasons was just awful back in the Premier League, especially if they reach the group stages of the tournament. Too many games and West Ham just doesn't own the squad to face that challenge, maybe there's no team in England that does.
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advoghado
8 years ago
I strongly believe that the team West Ham will get a place at next phase in the first game, it is quite possible to make a score with several goals and in the second game in Malta, just manage the favorable result, your opponent is less, and not finished the Championship in their country in a good position.
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