Thursday night brings us the opening games of the group stage of this season’s Europa Conference League and it features this upcoming Matchday 1 clash between English hosts, West Ham, and their Romanian visitors, Steaua Bucharest, in this important Group B clash at London Stadium.
West Ham will still be seething after their equalising goal against Chelsea was ruled out by VAR in the London clash at Stamford Bridge amidst controversial circumstances, and manager, David Moyes, will be demanding all three points in this group opener against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday night.
We're in #UECL action on Thursday at London Stadium.Tickets are still available 👇— West Ham United (@WestHam) September 6, 2022
We're in #UECL action on Thursday at London Stadium.Tickets are still available 👇
Prior to that loss to Chelsea, West Ham had cruised through their qualifying play-off tie against Danish outfit, Viborg, with the London hosts winning 6-1 on aggregate while also picking up a vital 1-0 win away from home at Aston Villa along with a point in a 1-1 draw at home with Tottenham.
Results at home in recent times have been below par to say the least.
The Hammers have won just once in their last nine home games in all competitions.The hosts look to possess too much quality for their visitors in this one.
Romanian visitors, Steaua Bucharest, have had to battle their way through various qualifying ties to reach the group stage of this season’s Europa Conference League, having started off this season’s campaign with a 1-0 loss away at Georgian side, Saburtalo, in the 1st leg.
However, Bucharest bounced back in style as they recorded a 4-2 win in the 2nd leg and progressing 4-3 on aggregate, which was followed by victories over Slovakian outfit, Dunajska Streda 2-0 on aggregate and then getting over the final hurdle with a nail-biting 4-3 win on aggregate against Norwegian club, Viking.
Steaua Bucharest have played four away ties in total so far in the Europa Conference League.
The visitors have won twice but also lost twice as well, so the jury is still out as to whether they are capable of matching West Ham’s quality on Thursday night.
Having managed to register just two away wins from their last six outings on the road in all competitions though, Steaua Bucharest may find their hosts too strong with home advantage behind West Ham as the hosts look for retribution from the weekend.