UEL: West Ham set new English record in European competitions
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 05.10.23. | 22:16
The Hammers won 2-1 in Germany and are unbeaten in Europe for 17 consecutive games
Freiburg's Europa Park is often an impregnable fortress in the Bundesliga. And when it falls, it rarely happens, especially very hard, but on the Euro scene, this stadium is not a big advantage for Christian Streich's company. West Ham was the third team in a row that took all three points from the city under the Black Forest - 2:1. The rivals from England and Germany played an even match, but not overly interesting. We expected more from the teams from the 'League Five' and one of the derbies of this round of the Europa League.
17 - West Ham United are the first English side ever to go 17 European matches (incl. qualifiers) unbeaten, with all 17 games coming since the start of last season. Bubbling. pic.twitter.com/zp0U2BqHBL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 5, 2023
Last season, Freiburg was one of the teams that conceded the fewest goals in Germany; their defence was considered pretty safe, while this fall, they had already conceded far too many goals. It probably also has to do with the fact that the captain and one of the most important player Christian Gunter, is out of action... The way the home team conceded goals tonight perhaps speaks best of the insecurity of Freiburg's defence. Both times after a cross, both times with a header... The fact that the first goal was the work of Lucas Paqueta, who has a lot of qualities but is not good at headers, speaks volumes about the Freiburg defence.
Freiburg 1-[2] West Ham - Nayef Aguerd 66'pic.twitter.com/eh25G1l5Sx
— GoalRushHQ (@GoalRushHQ) October 5, 2023
On the other side, West Ham is on a roll, and apart from defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City (which was expected), the Hammers are only winning (Luton, Brighton, TSC, Lincoln, Sheffield United). In fact, tonight, they set a new English record of 17 consecutive European matches unbeaten with this win. As mentioned before, they took the lead through Paqueta’s header and pretty much controlled the game, but the home team managed to equalize in the second half through Roland Sallai. But another defensive error, this time from Freiburg’s keeper Atubolu, allowed Nayef Aguerd to use Ward-Prowse's cross for the second goal and another triumph. Coach David Moyes used this game to rest some players ahead of a tough game against Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
Thursday
Freiburg - West Ham 1-2 (0-1)
/Sallai 49 - Paqueta 8, Aguerd 66/
TSC Backa Topola - Olympiakos 2-2 (0-1)
/Djakovac 63, Pantović 90+5 - Masounas 16, Podence 57/
AEK - Ajax 1-1 (0-1)
/ Vida 74 - Bergwijn 30/
Olympique Marseille - Brighton 2-2 (2-0)
/Mbemba 19, Vertout 20 - Gross 54, Pedro (p) 88/
Aris Limmasol - Rangers 2-1 (1-0)
/Moussounda 9, Babic 59 - Sima 70/
Betis - Sparta Praha 2-1 (1-1)
/Diao 9, Isco 79 - Birmancevic 3/
Rakow - Sturm 0-1 (0-1)
/Bowing 23/
Sporting - Atalanta 1-2 (0-2)
/Gyokeres 76 - Scalvini 33, Ruggeri 43/
22:00: (1.18) Liverpool (9.00) St.Gilloise (15.0)
22:00: (1.83) Toulouse (3.70) LASK (4.80)
22:00: (2.35) Maccabi Haifa (3.45) Panathinaikos (3.20)
22:00: (2.00) Villareal (3.60) Rennes (4.00)
22:00: (1.45) Slavia Praha (4.70) Sheriff Tiraspol (8.00)
22:00: (2.55) Hacken (3.50) Qarabag (2.85)
22:00: (1.20) Roma (7.75) Servette (16.0)
22:00: (6.25) Molde (4.40) Leverkusen (1.57)
***odds are subject to change***
