West Ham United vs Viborg FF Match Analysis and Prediction

4 years ago 612

West Ham United kick off their bid to secure a second consecutive season in the main stages of the European footbal with the first leg of their European Conference League playoff tie against Viborg FF.

While David Moyes’ side are playing their first continental game of the season, Viborg have already come through two rounds in this competition.

After the Hammers lost to Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League, Moyes was left furious about his side missing out on a second successive year in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, off the back of reaching the semi-finals in that competition last season, West Ham are motivated to become the second winners of the Europa Conference League.

Moyes’ side must first hit back from successive defeats to Manchester City and Nottingham Forest on the domestic scene, but they can count themselves unfortunate not to come out on top in the latter on Sunday.

Despite West Ham being the clear favourites to prevail from this tie, they do not have fond memories of fixture in qualifying rounds after suffering back-to-back defeats to Astra Giurgiu in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.

Although Viborg may carry the tag of underdogs, they can claim to be heading into this tie with momentum having already progressed through two ties.

Viborg have already managed to see off Suduva and B36 Torshavn, with the only goal they have conceded coming when the succeeded 5-1 on aggregate in the latter of those ties.

However, Jacob Friis has already witnessed his side lose twice in their opening five mathes in the Danish Superliga, leaving them in fifth position in the table.

West Ham supporters may be farmiliar with the names of Jay-Roy Grot and Jan Zamburek, players who have previously had stints at Brentford and Leeds United respectively.

West Ham United vs Viborg FF head to head

The two teams have not previously met in any competition and this will be their first meeting in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifying playoff-round tie.

West Ham United latest home form

West ham have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having been winless in their six most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.

West Ham United 1-1 Burnley 17/04/22

West Ham United 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt 28/04/22

West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal 01/05/22

West Ham United 2-2 Manchester City 15/05/22

West Ham United 0-2 Manchester City 07/08/22

West Ham United latest away form

West Ham have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their five most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded six.

Reading 1-1 West Ham United 16/07/22

Rangers 3-1 West Ham United 19/07/22

Luton Town 1-1 West Ham United 23/07/22

Lens 0-0 West Ham United 30/07/22

Nottingham Forest 1-0 West Ham United 14/08/22

Viborg FF latest home form

Viborg FF have recently been on a good run of form at home, having won each of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Silkeborg 2-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 12 goals and conceded just three.

Viborg 2-1 AaB 17/07/22

Viborg 1-0 Suduva 28/07/22

Viborg 4-2 FC Copenhagen 31/07/22

Viborg 3-0 B36 03/08/22

Viborg 2-0 Silkeborg 14/08/22

Viborg FF latest away form

Viborg FF have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just two of their seven most recent matches. They defeated B36 2-1 in their last away game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded six.

AaB 1-1 (P) Viborg 29/05/22

Suduva 0-1 Viborg 21/07/22

AGF 3-1 Viborg 24/07/22

Nordsjaelland 1-0 Viborg 06/08/22

B36 1-2 Viborg 09/08/22

West Ham United news

Gianluca Scamacca could be handed his first start for West Ham, while Manuel Lanzini is an obvious alternative in a creative area.

Flynn Downes is an option in midfield, with second-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola likely to start, but Maxwel Cornet could make do with another game on the substitutes’ bench.

Viborg FF news

After quickly establishing a 2-0 lead over Silkeborg at the weekend, head coach Jacob Friis took the opportunity to rest a number of his players after the hour mark.

That may lead to an unchanged Viborg starting lineup, although that will depend on whether he opts to deploy a more defensively-minded formation.

Prediction and Odds

Despite the prospect of changes being made, there is a danger of Moyes taking their visitors lightly as the club look to take this competition seriously.

While West Ham may not go all guns firing, we expect them to claim a comfortable win at the London Stadium ahead of the second leg.

Odds: 1 1.88 X 2.00 2 2.00