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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Clark

West Ham's potential Europa League opponents as Hammers await Europa League draw

West Ham coasted to the top of their Europa League group last year as the Hammers sealed top spot with a game to spare.

In doing so David Moyes was able to field an inexperienced side full of academy graduates in the dead-rubber against Dinamo Zagreb and avoid the tricky play-off round against a side who started the season in the Champions League.

However, with the play-off first legs completed, West Ham's attention can now partially turn back to the Europa League with the draw for the last-16 being held at 11am on Friday morning.

With the second legs set to take place on Thursday evening, football.london has taken a look at the state of play in the Europa League and just who West Ham could be coming up against on March 10.

Barcelona 1-1 Napoli

Two names that are often associated with the Champions League came head to head in Barcelona last week and played out an entertaining 1-1 draw. In previous seasons Napoli would appear to have the advantage with an away goal to their name but this campaign is the first since the rule was scrapped.

It is all square as the giants head to Naples but despite the support of a home crowd, Barcelona are slight favourites to progress.

football.london verdict - Barcelona

Dortmund 2-4 Rangers

Perhaps the shock of the round as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side produced a superb performance away to the German powerhouse.

Rangers were 3-0 up at one stage and the tie looked dead however at 4-2 there is still a chance for Dortmund but they will have to improve greatly on last week's display to progress.

football.london verdict - Rangers

Sevilla 3-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo were the runners-up to West Ham in the group stages, and even won at the London Stadium against the inexperienced Hammers team, but it looks like their European campaign is over after a comprehensive defeat in Spain.

Sevilla are the masters of the Europa League having won the competition, or a variation of it, six times, including four of the last eight. The final will be held in their home stadium in May and the Spanish side will be a tough challenge for anyone.

football.london verdict - Sevilla

RB Leipzig 2-2 Real Sociedad

This is the most finely poised tie of the round and the only one of the eight that ended all square.

With the return leg to be held in San Sebastian, the Spanish side just hold the edge but it is almost too close to call. Should La Real progress, a draw with West Ham would be eagerly anticipated as it would see David Moyes return to his former side after a 12-month spell in charge in between 2014 and 2015.

football.london verdict - Real Sociedad

Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-3 Real Betis

Another tie with links to West Ham saw former manager Manuel Pellegrini take his current side Betis to Russia and come away with the upper hand.

This tie is finely balanced but with a lead to take back to their home stadium in Seville, Betis and Pellegrini have the edge.

football.london verdict - Real Betis

Sheriff 2-0 Braga

The Moldovan champions Sheriff do not have a long history having only been founded in 1997 but they are experienced European group campaigners, however, knock-out football is new to them with the game against Braga their first-ever tie.

The Moldovans ran out comfortable winners at home and are clear favourites to progress.

football.london verdict - Sheriff

Atalanta 2-1 Olympiacos

The Italian side were expected to progress in the Champions League but despite some excellent performances they were left disappointed with only six points to show for their efforts.

A 2-1 win at home to Greek giants Olympiacos leaves this game finely balanced but Gian Piero Gasperini's team are expected to have enough about them to seal progress.

football.london verdict - Atalanta

Porto 2-1 Lazio

Another tie with loose links to West Ham as Hammers former record signing Felipe Anderson started for Lazio against Champions League regulars Porto.

The Italians took an early lead but two goals from Toni Martinez gave the Portuguese side the edge heading to Rome this week. However, with home advantage, Lazio could just nick this one if they manage to keep the dangerous Martinez under wraps.

football.london verdict - Lazio

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