West Ham now have a much clearer idea of their possible last 16 opponents after a rare occurrence in the Europa Conference League play-offs.
West Ham became the first club to win all six group games in the fledgling history of Europe’s third tier competition when they beat FCSB 3-0 before the World Cup break.
While the Hammers have endured a miserable Premier League campaign, David Moyes’ side have actually won all eight of their European games this season including their two-legged qualifier before the group stages.
It must be said that has been against a lower standard of opposition, though.
After gliding through the group West Ham secured their spot in last 16 European knockout football for the second season in a row.
And they are one the favourites to win the Conference League.
The Hammers will play their last 16 match over two legs in March. But before then all eyes turned to who they might face last night.
And West Ham got a much clearer idea of their possible last 16 opponents after a rare occurrence in the Europa Conference League play-offs.
The eight teams who finished second in the Conference League groups took on the eight Europa League dropouts – teams finishing third in that competition – in the first legs of their play-offs overnight.
Historically the first match in two-legged European knockout games tend to be very cagey affairs that very often end in draws.
But last night seven of the eight ties had a winner, meaning West Ham have a much clearer idea of who they might face next month.
Anything can happen in football of course. And remarkably six of the seven winning results ended 1-0 meaning the ties remain relatively open for the second legs.
One side who will definitely be in the pot to potentially face West Ham are Serie A outfit Fiorentina after they thumped Braga 4-0.
And going by which sides have their noses in front in the other games – and are therefore now favourites to make it to the last 16 from their respective ties – West Ham could also face one of Qarabag, Trabzonspor, Lazio, AEK Larnaca, Ludogorets or Partizan Belgrade – who all lead 1-0 going into the second legs.
The other tie between Bodo/Glimt and Lech Poznan ended 0-0.
West Ham will find out their last 16 opponents when the draw is made on February 24 after the winners of the play-off ties are confirmed.
Winning the Conference League would also guarantee West Ham European football for a third successive season as they would automatically qualify for the Europa League for the 2023/24 campaign.
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