West Ham travel away to face Olympiacos

West Ham United make the trip to Greece to face Olympiacos on Thursday evening with the opportunity to move to the brink of qualification for the Europa League knockout stages.

However, while the Hammers have the chance to go eight points clear of their next opponents, defeat would make it at least a three-horse race to progress from Group A.

David Moyes has said on more than one occasion this season that West Ham’s primary focus is the Premier League as they bid to challenge for the top six.

That said, a run of one win in five matches in England’s top flight means that the Hammers also have to push as hard as possible in Europe in a bid to become mainstays in the competition as a bare minimum.

On a positive note, West Ham have started their continental campaign in perfect fashion, coming from behind to defeat Backa Topola and seeing off Freiburg on away territory in what was theoretically their toughest game on paper.

Despite West Ham’s ongoing European form, this has the potential to be a banana-skin for the Hammers. Olympiacos are usually a strong outfit on home soil, yet we feel that the Premier League outfit will do enough to overcome their next opponents.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Brighton play host to Ajax in Group B battle

Two teams seeking to end winless runs meet for a Europa League Group B battle at the American Express Community Stadium on Thursday night, as Brighton & Hove Albion play host to managerless Ajax.

While Brighton have gone over four weeks without a victory in any competitions, their Dutch counterparts remarkably last tasted success at the end of August.

Brighton have suffered a dip in form as they have only won one of their last seven matches across all competitions, conceding 17 goals in the process.

Brighton have had their fair share of challenges adapting to the rigours that come with juggling domestic and European duties, with De Zerbi having to regularly rotate his squad, and there are no signs of their frantic fixture schedule slowing down any time soon as successive home clashes with Ajax and Fulham are followed by five games in the month of November which includes a two-week international break.

The Seagulls could do with a victory over four-time European champions Ajax to boost their hopes of securing a top-two spot in Group B.

It is difficult to foresee a contest without goals at both ends between Brighton and Ajax, considering the two teams have regularly shown a threat in the final third whilst struggling to shore things up at the back so far this season.

Ajax will hope that the change in the dugout can spark an instant upturn in fortunes, but we believe that Brighton may just edge this intriguing match-up in front of their own fans to claim their maiden European victory.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Liverpool, Toulouse face off at Anfield

The top two teams in Group E of the Europa League face off at Anfield on Thursday night as Liverpool play host to Toulouse.

While the Reds are seeking to preserve their perfect record in this year’s group stage, Les Violets also remain unbeaten and could climb to the summit with a famous triumph on Merseyside. After dropping points in their final two Premier League games before the international break, Liverpool returned to winning ways when they beat Merseyside rivals Everton by a 2-0 scoreline last weekend.

Liverpool have won their opening two games in Group E, with a 3-1 comeback win over LASK Linz in matchday one followed by a routine 2-0 home success against Union SG three weeks ago, extending their unbeaten run in the Europa League group stage to 10 matches.

The Reds, who have won all six matches at Anfield in all tournaments so far this season and have only lost two of their previous 15 European home games against French opposition, can move five points clear of second-placed Toulouse with a victory.

Liverpool cannot take Thursday’s opponents lightly, considering that Toulouse remain unbeaten in Group E and have also held both Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in Ligue 1 this term.

However, the Reds should ultimately have too much quality for their French counterparts, even if Klopp decides to rest a few first-team stars, and we expect the hosts to come away with a routine victory to move them one step closer to reaching the knockout rounds.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Roma welcome Slavia Prague to Stadio Olimpico

Group G’s top two convene at Roma‘s Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, as Slavia Prague visit the Italian capital with the teams locked on six points apiece.

Leaving Servette and Sheriff Tiraspol trailing in their wake, both sides have won their first two matches, leaving them primed for progress to the knockout stage.

Though they have rarely seemed likely to breach Serie A’s top four, since Jose Mourinho strode through the door at Roma’s Trigoria training facility the capital-city club have continued to produce results in UEFA competition.

Winners of the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022 and Europa League runners-up last term, Roma have started this season’s continental campaign with back-to-back wins, scoring six times in the process.

Now facing a double-header with Group G co-leaders Slavia Prague, Mourinho’s men have used recent results in Europe as a springboard for success in Serie A, and after an awful start they have now won three league games on the spin.

Set for their toughest test in Europe so far this season, resurgent Roma will have to work hard for a fifth straight win.

Roared on by the Olimpico faithful, and now boasting more squad depth, the Italian club should have just too much nous in the final third for Slavia to handle.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk