Can Rapid continue to dream of winter?
Just a few weeks ago, it looked like a record season for the Austrian Bundesliga in terms of five-year standings. Four teams are represented in the various group stages, but it is in the Europa League that the two representatives are paying a lot of dues. On Thursday evening, a true final is already on the agenda for the Austrian record champions. The match between Rapid Wien and West Ham will kick off at the Allianz Stadium at 6:45 p.m.
This is a Group H match. The guests from London started as big group favourites and have been able to fulfil this role so far. With ten points, West Ham already have a top-two place in the bag and an away win in the Austrian capital would be tantamount to winning the group. The bookmakers are offering odds of around 1.60 on Rapid Vienna vs West Ham.
The Green-Whites currently have three points and are bottom of the table. With a home defeat against the Premier League club, the Europa League season is over, even the winter in the Conference League would then only be theoretical.
Rapid Vienna – Statistics & current form
This is the ninth time the Austrian record champions have reached the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. Only twice did the international adventure find a continuation in the following spring, six times the group stage was tantamount to the final stop for the Green-White’s journey. 108 goals conceded and 30 defeats in the UEFA Europa League are both the worst figures of all participants in the history of the competition.
Strong home record in group stage
Despite the statistics of failing to reach the group stage six times, Rapid Wien have a convincing home record in the UEFA Europa League group stage. The narrow 0:1 defeat against Arsenal London on the first matchday of the 2020/21 season was the first home defeat for the Green-Whites after 13 group matches (eight wins, five draws).
This season, they also suffered a 1-0 defeat on matchday one. Against the Belgian representative, Rapid Wien conceded a cheap goal in the final phase. Nevertheless, Rapid Wien have won ten of their last 18 group matches at home. Home strength is certainly a big plus for the team from the capital. With only two defeats in those 18 games, there is certainly value between Rapid Vienna and West Ham when betting on the double chance 1X.
Successful debut for interim coach Hickersberger
The record champions were finally able to celebrate another success last weekend with a 1-0 win against Altach. In the first game after Didi Kühbauer’s resignation, the performance was by no means outstanding, but in the end only the three points counted. At least commitment and willingness to run were absolutely given – a basic virtue that was increasingly not to be seen before the international break.
The home match against the Hammers is certainly a big task, which is made even more difficult by the many injuries. Rapid will have to improvise, especially in defence, as several (regular) players are currently unavailable.
Predicted line-up of Rapid Wien:
Gartler – Ullmann, Moormann, Aiwu, Stojkovic – Grahovac, Ljubicic – Grüll, Knasmüllner, Fountas – Kara
Last matches played by Rapid Wien:
Bundesliga
11/20 2021 – Rapid Vienna 1 – 0 Altach
11/07 2021 – Wolfsberger AC 4 – 1 Rapid Vienna
Europa League Grp. H
11/04 2021 – Dinamo Zagreb 3 – 1 Rapid Wien
Bundesliga
10/31 2021 – Rapid Vienna 3 – 2 LASK
Cup
10/28 2021 – Amstetten 0 – 3 Rapid Wien
West Ham – Statistics & current form
The club from the motherland of football is one of two debutants this season. In 2015/16 and 2016/17, the Hammers embarrassed themselves against a Romanian side before David Moyes’ side qualified directly for the group stage last season by finishing sixth in the Premier League.
Best start to a season in a decade
The Hammers have made an impressive development in the last one and a half years. Under David Moyes, the team from the English capital London has advanced to become an absolute top team, which does not have to hide from the supposed big names in the domestic championship. This can also be seen in figures, because the current 23 points after twelve league games not only mean fourth place, but also the best start to the season in the last ten seasons.
Most recently, however, they suffered a minor setback when, after four league wins in a row (including derbies against Tottenham and Liverpool), the Hammes suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Wolves.
Superior performances mean early qualification
Internationally, the debutants (second is Brøndby in Group A) have also been convincing. The Moyes eleven won the first three group games without conceding a goal. The first blot on the still spotless white waistcoat came in the return match against KRC Genk. The 2-2 draw meant not only the first loss of a point, but also the first goals conceded this season. Regardless of this, West Ham already have a place in the Europa League in the spring of 2022 firmly in the bag.
However, with the top match against Manchester City on the agenda next weekend, David Moyes will certainly be without some of his regular players in Vienna. Although there are some well-known players (Issa Diop, Mark Noble, Andrey Yarmolenko, Nikola Vlasic) waiting for their chance on the bench, the lack of automaticity could be an advantage for the Green-Whites. Therefore, a prediction on the guests is discouraged for Rapid Wien against West Ham. The risk with the improved B eleven is too great.
Predicted line-up of West Ham:
Areola – Cresswell, Diop, Baptiste, Fredericks – Kral, Noble – Masuaku, Fornals, Yarmolenko – Vlasic
Last matches played by West Ham:
Premier League
11/20 2021 – Wolverhampton 1 – 0 West Ham
11/07 2021 – West Ham 3 – 2 Liverpool FC
Europa League Grp. H
11/04 2021 – KRC Genk 2 – 2 West Ham
Premier League
10/31 2021 – Aston Villa 1 – 4 West Ham
Carabao Cup
10/27 2021 – West Ham (5)0 – 0(3) Manchester City
Rapid Vienna – West Ham Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The first leg was also the first meeting between the two teams. The Austrian record champions sold themselves dearly at the Londo Stadium and kept the game open for a long time. It was not until the 94th minute that the Moyes team scored on the counterattack to make it 2:0. Rapid Wien have now lost eight of their twelve previous games against Premier League teams. For West Ham, the first leg was also their first ever match against an Austrian side.
Rapid Vienna – West Ham Tip
Enormous injury worries and at times disastrous performances come up against a Premier League side that is looking back on its best start to a season in ten years. Given these circumstances, the starting position is more than clear and yet betting on the Hammers seems too risky. After all, Moyes’ side have already booked their place in the competition and could potentially win the group despite losing (should Dinamo Zagreb lose to Genk), while they also have a home game against the Citizens at the weekend.
These facts ensure that the prediction on the double chance 1X is envisaged for Rapid Wien against West Ham. This is further supported by the very good home record of the Green-Whites in the Europa League. Some much higher-ranked teams have already had big problems in Vienna and a point win is certainly within the realms of possibility here.
