West Ham welcome FCSB to London Stadium in Group B of 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Victory would see either team go top if they better Anderlecht’s result against Silkeborg in the early-evening kick-off.
Team News
Gianluca Scamacca is set to feature for West Ham after he resumed training this week following a bout of illness.
Aaron Creswell (calf), Ben Johnson and Craig Dawson (both hamstring) are doubts but Nayef Aguerd (ankle) remains ruled out.
FCSB will be without Pantiru, Adrian Sut, Andrei Dumiter, Lulian Cristea and Ovidiu Poescu due to knee injuries.
Stat Attack
- West Ham’s are winless in two previous meetings against FCSB in all competitions (D1, L1).
- FCSB have failed to win any of their last nine away visits to English opposition in all UEFA competitions (D2, L7).
- Gianluca Scamacca scored the opening goal in both legs of West Ham’s Play-Off victory over Viborg.
- FCSB kept just two clean sheets across their three Qualifying ties to reach this stage of the competition.
- West Ham are unbeaten in three of four previous home matches against Romanian opposition in all UEFA competitions (W1, D2, L1).
Prediction
Following a controversial Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, West Ham now need to simply refocus and channel their frustrations into a positive home performance with better marking in a game where they will be favourites to win.
FCSB meanwhile are in poor form with just two away wins in all competitions this season yet boast a decent attack, which has been let down by poor defending but a huge performance will be required here against a likely aggressive West Ham attack once they hit their strides.
I however can’t see the Romanian visitors winning this because West Ham have enough quality to get a solid win, although FCSB’s pressing style could well be an initial challenge for the club to suss out in the early stages of the game.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 FCSB
Result: West Ham 3-1 FCSB
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