Will Germany remain a tough place for the Hammers?

For the second year in a row, SC Freiburg are currently in the UEFA Europa League. Last season, the Breisgau side only failed to reach the round of 16, and this season, coach Christian Streich’s team has set itself the goal of at least surviving in the second most important competition at European level. In order to even wrap up the group victory after six match days, they have to leave their toughest opponent from the Premier League behind them.

We are of course talking about reigning Conference League champions West Ham United, who are the favourites in Group A. However, the odds on the three-way market prove that the Sport-Club can now also be expected to do well in international business. Between Freiburg and West Ham, betting on a home win brings almost identical prices as betting on an away win. A duel of equals is therefore to be expected.

The fact is that both teams have a lot of respect for their respective opponents and will therefore be looking for a little more security. It is quite possible that the opponents will neutralise each other in the first half and want to avoid going behind. Should this be the case, it would certainly make sense to predict that the first 45 minutes of the match between Freiburg and West Ham will be rather low-scoring. In terms of quality, however, the Londoners are perhaps even a little stronger.

Freiburg – Statistics & current form

With ten points from the first six games, SC Freiburg have once again made a rock-solid start to the new Bundesliga season. However, those responsible for coach Christian Streich will probably not yet be completely satisfied with their team’s performance. Even in their third win of the season at home to FC Augsburg at the weekend, the Breisgau side lacked the ease of previous seasons.

The fact that they have only scored seven goals of their own so far, while the new regular keeper Atubolu has already conceded ten, impressively underlines the fact that there is still some sand in the gears of the Black Forest side. At least they kept their clean sheet in the last two league games, which should give them a little more confidence ahead of the upcoming Europa League match.

Freiburg must find a good balance

Generally, the Europa League opener went optimally for the Sport-Club. In the difficult away match at Olympiakos Piraeus, the Streich eleven happily prevailed 3:2 and thus set the first course for entry into the knockout phase. Since the start of last season, Freiburg have now played seven EL group matches and have not lost a single one (five wins, two draws). The last defeat in the group stage was in December 2013.

But because the self-confidence is not sprouting out of the individual players at the moment and the SCF lacks a real goal scorer in the attack who constantly causes trouble and threat, Christian Streich will probably pack his men into a more compact basic order and a close-meshed corset against the ball again on Thursday evening.

We therefore do not expect an open match, but rather a rather wait-and-see, tough match, especially at the beginning, in which there will most likely be more penalty area scenes only after the change of ends. Before the match between Freiburg and West Ham, the odds on a maximum of one goal in the first 45 minutes are therefore well worth considering. In four out of six Bundesliga matches, Sport-Club did not concede a goal in the first half. In 2022/23, the bet on the under 1.5 (1st half) would even have gone through in six of the eight European Cup games played by the Breisgauer. A good omen?

Predicted line-up of Freiburg:

SC Freiburg (Expected line-up) 4-2-3-1

West Ham – Statistics & current form

Looking back at the past two European Cup seasons, West Ham United Football Club is one of the main protagonists. In 2021/22, the traditional club from the English capital reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, but was eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt. In the previous year, coach David Moyes’ team finally secured the trophy in the Europa Conference League and thus drowned out the disappointing Premier League season.

Since the start of last season alone in 2022/23, the Hammers are now on 15 wins from 16 international matches (one draw). In the Europa League, meanwhile, the capital club have won five of their seven matches so far (one draw, one defeat). Given these impressive stats at European level, we’d be more likely to predict the visitors’ treble between Freiburg and West Ham.

The Hammers have already picked up 13 points in the PL

In the Premier League, the Irons have also got off to a good start. There have already been four wins in the first seven matchdays. Only against Manchester City and Liverpool did the Londoners lose out. Seventh place in the interim rankings reads very positively, especially since the dress rehearsal last weekend was also victorious with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Nevertheless, Moyes’ side found it surprisingly difficult at home to Serbian underdogs Backa Topola on the first day of group play, and it took a marked improvement in performance after the break for the match to go their way. After being 0-0 down after 45 minutes and 1-0 down shortly after the break, England came on strong in the last half hour and eventually won 3-1 The English team was able to win the match in the first half.

Ward-Prowse’s stationary balls have a lot to offer

The differentiator on this evening was undoubtedly James Ward-Prowse, who created many chances with his ideas and also set up two of the three goals mentioned. In general, the standards of the newcomer from Southampton are a brutal weapon that the SCF absolutely must get to grips with.

We predict, however, that the Hammers’ physicality and power will cause problems for the Bundesliga side. If you still think it’s too risky to place a bet on the three-way market, you can alternatively combine odds on the double chance between Freiburg and West Ham with a goal bet.

Predicted West Ham line-up:

West Ham (Expected line-up) 4-2-3-1

Freiburg – West Ham Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

For the first time, SC Freiburg and West Ham face each other at European level. For the Breisgauer it is even the first European Cup match against a representative from England. The Londoners have already had a few more experiences – albeit negative ones. The Hammers have lost all three of their most recent trips to Germany. The Hammers most recently lost 1-0 in the EL semi-finals in Frankfurt in May 2022.

Freiburg – West Ham Tip

On Thursday evening, two winners of the first matchday in Group A of the UEFA Europa League will face each other at the Europa-Park-Stadion in Freiburg. West Ham United celebrated a 3-1 home win against Backa Topola, which was only bagged in the last half hour. Sport-Club, meanwhile, were lucky to take all three points from Olympiakos Piraeus (2:3).

The temporary lead in the standings is now at stake in the direct duel. There is no clear favourite in the run-up to the match, but the Hammers seem to have a slight edge at the moment based on their performances in the league. Although the team from Breisgau was able to celebrate another win at the weekend, the attack is still lacking. Qualitatively, we would also see the Londoners as having the advantage at the moment.

But since Streich’s team has a lot to play for on the international stage and the bonus of playing at home, we’ll take a chance between Freiburg and West Ham and bet on a maximum of one goal in the first half.