West Ham already have a good idea who they’ll face in Europa Conference League semi and final if Hammers can get there.
When the double draw was made by UEFA for the Europa Conference League quarter and semi-finals last month, West Ham managed to avoid all the big hitters as a dream path to the final opened up.
Fiorentina, Nice and Basel were on the other side of the draw with Lech Poznan while West Ham were paired against Gent with the victors playing the winner of Anderlecht vs AZ Alkmaar.
That came after West Ham were also handed the most favourable of the last 16 draws as they were paired with the lowest ranked side left in the competition – AEK Larnaca.
West Ham threw away a 1-0 lead against Belgian side Gent to draw 1-1 in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final.
If David Moyes was looking for an improved performance from his side after unconvincing wins over Fulham and Southampton either side of a 5-1 home defeat to Newcastle last week, he didn’t get it.
After a decent opening few moments, the Hammers were poor throughout in Belgium and did not deserve to win the game.
The only real positive is that West Ham did not lose and now have home advantage for the second leg at the London Stadium next Thursday.
The Irons will still be favourites to progress to a second European semi-final in a year.
And West Ham already have a good idea who they’ll face in the Europa Conference League semi and final if the Hammers can get there.
West Ham already have a good idea who they’ll face in Europa Conference League semi and final if Hammers can get there
Of course we all know anything can happen in football – as we have seen many times down the years.
But from what we saw in the quarter-final first legs, it seems highly likely West Ham will face group stage opponents Anderlecht in the semi-final and Italians Fiorentina in the final.
Anderlecht, who West Ham have already beaten twice in the group stages earlier this season, saw off Dutch side AZ 2-0 at home albeit in fairly even game.
It means AZ must go for broke to try and claw a way back into the tie in the second leg.
Fiorentina meanwhile already have one foot in the semi-final after a thumping 4-1 away win at Lech Poznan.
With Nice and Basel showing defensive frailties in their 2-2 draw, it makes pre-tournament joint favourites Fiorentina look a sure bet to make the final in Prague.
West Ham must get their own job done against Gent before they can look that far ahead of course.
But the first legs have certainly given West Ham and the club’s fans an idea of what likely lay ahead if the Hammers are going to end a 43-year major trophy drought.
The draw for the semi-finals meant that West Ham – should they make it – will play at home first and so face the perceived disadvantage of the second leg being away from home – as it was against Frankfurt and Lyon last season with differing outcomes.
Should they make the final, West Ham would be designated as the away team after a further draw was done to decide that aspect.
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