Tactics
Under manager David Moyes, West Ham almost always play in a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation. The Hammers may not always be spectacular, but they are well organised and extremely alert, particularly off the ball. However, the system is not set in stone. “Against a back three they normally play 3-4-3,” revealed Oliver Glasner on Saturday evening.
Absentees
Evan Ndicka was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time of the quarter-final second leg in Barcelona, while Kristijan Jakic picked up his third caution in the competition. Both are therefore suspended for the trip to London. In addition, there’s a doubt over Christopher Lenz, who broke his little toe against Union Berlin on Bundesliga Matchday 30.
The hosts also have personnel issues ahead of Thursday’s first leg, particularly in defence. Angelo Ogbonna’s season ended in November with a cruciate ligament tear, while fellow centre-backs Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop have been in the treatment room in recent weeks and will definitely miss out against SGE.
One to watch: Declan Rice
At the age of just 23, Declan Rice has been the team’s de facto captain this season in the absence of ‘Mr West Ham’, Mark Noble. The youth product is nearing his 200th competitive appearance and is recognised as a key player who has an outstanding reading of the game, wins the ball a lot and distributes it with good vision.
Head-to-head
The only previous meeting between the two sides came in the semi-finals of the 1976 Cup Winners’ Cup. Eintracht won 2-1 in the first leg but missed out on the final after losing 3-1 in London.
Top statistics
West Ham boast the strongest defence in the competition this season, having kept six clean sheets and conceded just five goals in total.
The Eagles have now reached the semi-finals in two of their last three Europa League campaigns.
Eintracht Frankfurt are just the fourth team to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League unbeaten.
