The Green Street Hammers Predict West Ham v SK Rapid Wien
By Louis Pye
West Ham’s European journey continues on Thursday night as they take on Austrian outfit SK Rapid Wien at London Stadium.
The Hammers started their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory away at Dinamo Zagreb, giving them an early lead at the top of the Group H table.
David Moyes’ men will be looking to extend that lead in pole position in front of an excited home crowd who will be experiencing their first ever European group game at the stadium they moved into in 2016.
West Ham’s last European game at London Stadium saw them lose 1-0 to Astra Giurgiu ultimately crashing out at the qualifying stage.
Their opponents, Rapid Wien, currently sit second to bottom of the Austrian Bundesliga having lost five of their opening nine games, so West Ham will be heading into this fixture as favourites but can’t afford to be getting too ahead of themselves.
But how do our resident writers at the Green Street Hammers think the Irons will get on against a team that, on paper at least, they should be beating?
MIA: West Ham 3-0 Rapid Wien
On paper, Rapid Wien are the easiest of West Ham’s European opponents – hence the dominant scoreline. The whole team, from top to bottom, is playing with unbelievable confidence, and are all in the forms of their lives. Personally, I feel a defeat at home to a team that sits 11th in the Austrian Bundesliga would be a major shock.
After a fantastic start to our European campaign, I believe we will only be pushing further ahead of the opponents within our group. The support at the last few games has been incredible, and I can imagine that a home European game will be one of the loudest West Ham have had in the London Stadium – perfect to encourage the boys on!
ALEX: West Ham 2-0 Rapid Wien
After a cup win versus Man United followed by the dramatic victory away at Leeds on Saturday, confidence must be high.
Rapid Wien are struggling in the Austrian Premier League and are the weakest team in the Hammers’ group. Anything less than a win would be a big disappointment so the pressure is on, but there’s great excitement about the European adventure and I expect a good atmosphere in the London Stadium. I’m predicting that Nikola Vlasic will get his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win.
LOUIS: West Ham 3-0 Rapid Wien
After our impressive start to the season, it is difficult to see anything other than a home win here, no matter what side Moyes decides to put out.
Our second XI went to Old Trafford last week and defeated Man United in the Carabao Cup so, realistically, any West Ham team should be strong enough to overcome a Rapid Wien side who have been struggling early on this season.
I don’t think Moyes will make wholesale changes anyway, and I expect just a few fresh legs to come in to give tired players a much-needed rest, whilst still presenting a strong line-up.
Lanzini adding to his goal against Man United would be nice, whilst a first goal for Vlasic and Zouma, respectively, would round off a great evening.