It is pretty simple here, for West Ham United on Thursday night- win and you’re in. Yes, get the W at Backa Topola in midweek, and you are then on to the UEFA Europa League knockout round. Maybe David Moyes can eventually lead the Hammers to a UEL title like he did in the UEFA Europa Conference League?
West Ham has come close, a couple times, to lifting the Europa League trophy in recent years.
West Ham United at Backa Topola FYIs
Kickoff: Thurs. Nov. 30, 5:45pm, FSK TSC Stadium
Competition: UEFA Europa League Group A Matchday 5/6
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
West Ham Preview Content: Team News Starting XI Prediction
UEL Group Form, Standing: West Ham 1st, 9 pts WLWW Backa Topola 4th, 1 pt LLDL
As Backa Topoloa have only won twice in their last 11 matches, across all competitions, achieving a road victory here should not be too difficult.
West Ham United Starting XI Prediction at Backa Topoloa (UEFA Europa League)
Alphonse Areola; Thilo Kehrer, Kurt Zouma, Vladimir Coufal, Emerson Palmieri; Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse; Mohammed Kudus, Said Benrahma; Danny Ings
Prediction: West Ham 2, Backa Topola 1
With almost all the Irons in the fire, I really don’t see why the East Londoners should have any issues taking all three points from this affair.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.