24.04.2022
International

Third time lucky in London?

Eintracht are up for the challenge that faces them as they take on West Ham United in a two-legged semi-final, with a spot in the Europa League final awaiting the winners.

Eintracht are up for the challenge that faces them as they take on West Ham United in a two-legged semi-final, with a spot in the Europa League final awaiting the winners.

West Ham – home and away – are all that stand between the Eagles and a triumphant end to the season in Seville on 18 May. “If we needed any extra motivation for the semi-finals of the Europa League, we certainly got that in the two matches against Barcelona,” said Ansgar Knauff ahead of the opening 90 minutes against the team currently seventh in the Premier League.

First leg in London

The first leg will be played at the London Stadium on Thursday evening (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), with the return leg on 5 May at a sold-out Deutsche Bank Park. “The Barcelona tie was a real highlight, but that shouldn’t be the end,” demanded captain Sebastian Rode. Twice before, the English capital has spelled the end of a European campaign for the Eagles at the semi-final stage, with both stories predictably featuring heavily in the media coverage building up to the match.

The UEFA Europa League trophy.

Historic clash against the Hammers

Still fresh in the memory is the dramatic defeat on penalties against Chelsea three years ago in the Europa League, while this week’s opponents also feature in Eintracht’s European history, again on the negative side of the ledger. Back in 1976, SGE won the first leg in the Waldstadion only to go down in the return at Upton Park and lose on aggregate by one goal. The Hammers went on to taste defeat themselves in the final, meaning that they have been waiting for silverware of any kind for as long as the Eagles have drawn a blank in Europe. Back in 1980, Eintracht won the UEFA Cup while West Ham enjoyed their third and most recent FA Cup success.
Confidence is high

Knauff believes that Eintracht will get the better of the Hammers this time around, saying: “I’m convinced that our fans and the spirit both within the club and throughout the city will see us defeat West Ham”. Whatever happens, fans on both sides can look forward to a clash of the highest quality.

Match info

Kick-off: Thursday 28 April 2022, UEFA Europa League, semi-finals, first leg.
Stadium: London Stadium, London.