The Europa League semi-final second leg will be played on Thursday between Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham United. If West Ham are to reach the Europa League final, they must overcome first-leg deficits against German opponents, while Leicester City goes to Italy to deny Jose Mourinho’s Roma a place in the Europa League’s first-ever final.
With goals from Borussia Dortmund loanee Ansgar Knauff and Japan player Daichi Kamada, Eintracht Frankfurt have the upper hand as they prepare to welcome West Ham in the second leg of their semi-final. They are aiming for their first European final since overcoming Borussia Moenchengladbach to win the UEFA Cup in 1980, after knocking off Barcelona in the previous eight.
West Ham fans are blowing bubbles in Frankfurt ahead of the UEL semi-final. One of the fans said as per the sources: “I never thought I would ever see West Ham in the semi-final of the Europa League.”
Hammers have knocked out Sevilla and Lyon in the last two rounds and are looking to reach their first European final since 1976 when they lost to Anderlecht in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
The Hammers have had a good season, but it could end in disappointment if they fail to beat Frankfurt, as they are now unlikely to finish higher than seventh in the Premier League after a four-game losing streak. If West Ham advance, they will become the eighth English team to reach the final of the UEFA Cup or Europa League since 2000, with an all-British final still possible.
