10
18:56
Creswell not only stays on his left side, but now also pulls the ball into the center. He eventually takes Johnson on the right, but the right-back’s cross is far too imprecise.
8th
18:55
West Ham now want to take a little more control. The Hammers let the ball run happily in their own back four, while Sevilla are now more cautious.
6
18:53
Incidentally, there has been a personnel change at the Blanquirrojos. Ivan Rakitić was injured during the warm-up, so the aforementioned Munir is in the starting XI.
4
18:52
Munir has a good chance to head the ball from 12 yards out after Corona put in a superb cross seven yards from the right. The header whizzes past the left!
3
18:48
The Andalusians try to build up pressure directly. West Ham stagger deep and receive the Blanquirrojos before their own sixteen. Acuña hits a first cross from the left half-space and finds En-Nesyri ten meters in front of the goal. But his header lands centrally in the hands of Aréola.
1
18:46
Referee Sandro Schärer from Switzerland whistles for the match! West Ham are dressed in red, while the hosts Sevilla are dressed in white. Here we go!
18:40
The Europa League is something like Sevilla FC’s hobbyhorse. The Andalusians have lifted the trophy four times in the last eight years and this year the final is at home. West Ham, on the other hand, don’t have a particularly glorious Europa League history. The Hammers were finally able to qualify for a European competition again after finishing sixth last season. The men from East London were able to win an international competition only once: in the 1964/1965 season West Ham triumphed in the European Cup Winners’ Cup at Wembley over Don’t be alarmed, 1860 Munich! The golden days of the Munich Lions are long gone, and the Hammers want to revive them in this game today!
18:34
Less beautiful scenes apparently took place last night after the Frankfurt Eintracht game against Betis Sevilla. According to several media reports, fans of Eintracht and West Ham met in the old town of Seville around midnight. There are said to have been fights with arrests and injuries. Although the Hammers’ game is only today, a large number of fans seemed to have been in the Andalusian city since yesterday. Hopefully it will remain quiet in the stands today.
18:10
The two teams meet for the first time ever on a European stage. The teams are considered to be very strong in one-on-one combat and disciplined against the ball. It could therefore be a very competitive, intense game. Sevilla are having a strong season so far in the Spanish league and are eight points behind Real Madrid in second place. The Andalusians conceded just eighteen goals in 27 league games! The Hammers, on the other hand, recently suffered two setbacks. In the traditional FA Cup they were eliminated by Southampton and in the league the Irons suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. As winners of EL Group H, however, they are now challenging the relegated team from the Champions League, who knew how to beat Dinamo Zagreb in the playoffs.
17:56
This first round of 16 this Thursday has it all. The second in the Spanish League welcomes the sixth in the Premier League! Seville can win the fifth Europa League title this year – even in their own stadium! However, coach Lopetegui complains about a long list of injuries, which today also includes midfielder Delaney, who has been suspended. Since he has few options, the coach sends the same team as in the league onto the field, only Torres replaces the suspended Delaney. On the other hand, Hammers coach Moyes makes two substitutions: Rice replaces the missing Bowen and EL keeper Aréola guards the box for Fabiański.
17:45
Welcome to the round of 16 first leg between Sevilla FC and West Ham United! Kick-off is at 6:45 p.m.!