WEST HAM v ASTRA
Thursday 25th August 2016 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League Betting Tips
West Ham did exactly what was required of them in their Europa League play-off first leg in Romania last week, and that was to avoid defeat as The Hammers earned a 1-1 draw away at tonight’s visitors Astra.
Having registered a 1-0 win at home over Bournemouth in the Premier league on the weekend, West Ham will therefore head into Thursday night’s second leg against Astra in confident mood as they look to reach the group stages of this competition which will provide much-needed additional revenue.
West Ham overcame Slovenian side Domzale in the previous round with an aggregate 4-2 win, but this was largely due to a solid 3-0 home win in the second leg following a 2-1 loss in Slovenia in the first leg. The likes of Ayew, Carroll and Payet should provide the hosts with that bit of quality required here.
Visitors Astra will be rueing the fact that they couldn’t make home advantage count in the first leg tie at their Stadionul Marin Anastasovici last week as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the English Premier League side, and they now face a difficult trip to England’s capital in order to qualify for the group stages.
The visitors received a body blow on the weekend too ahead of this crucial second leg as they were on the end of a 5-1 thrashing away at CFR Cluj in the Romanian Liga 1, and this won;t have done their preparations (or confidence) any favours for this second leg.
In addition, Astra have won just once in their last six away matches in the Europa League which was a 1-0 win at Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle back in July last year.
Pick: West Ham AH-1 @ 1.49 Unibet
