West Ham United will be looking to earn a Europa Conference League round of 16 first leg victory when they take on AEK Larnaca at the AEK Arena on Thursday night.
The Hammers go into the game off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League five days ago in the Premier League, but return to the Europa Conference League as the only side to have won all eight of their matches in the competition this season.
For West Ham, it will see them play a Larnaca side who are in the round of 16 after beating Ukrainian outfit Dnipro-1 in the play-off knockout round, with Larnaca finishing third in their Europa League group. Domestically, they sit second in the Cypriot First Division.
Irons boss David Moyes will be without at least two players for the game. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (fractured cheekbone/eye-socket) is ruled out until next month after fracturing his cheekbone and eye-socket during last month’s win over Nottingham Forest. Right-back Vladimir Coufal is also out with a heel injury which forced him off in the same match.
However, after recent injury concerns, manager Moyes has confirmed that the quartet of winger Maxwel Cornet (calf), defender Thilo Kehrer (illness), centre-back Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and striker Michail Antonio (hamstring) are all back in the squad, although Moyes did say that it was unlikely that Cornet would play.
football.london are at today's match at the AEK Arena. Follow the live blog for all of the latest team news, pre-match build up, score updates, thoughts and analysis from the home of the Guardians.
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A 2-0 win for West Ham, job done in the end! A good advantage to take into next week's second leg.
Not long to go here!
Nikolic's shot is blocked by Kehrer, Trickovski's volley forces a great save out of Areola.
Paqueta should have made it 3-0. A brilliant turn and pass from Cornet, Paqueta clean through but shoots straight at Piric.
Both full-backs have struggled here.
A late cameo for Cornet, on for Fornals.
Lanzini comes off for Paqueta. A good shift from Lanzini.
A needed header at the back post. Paqueta about to come on.
Larnaca pushing for a late goal here with just over 15 to go as Zouma's blocked a cross.
A deflected shot goes wide moments after there was a near mix-up in the box between Zouma and Kehrer, West Ham could really do with a third.
Flynn Downes is booked, his third in the competition means he is banned for the second leg next week.
Good from Fornals to get a cross towards the back post, cleared just before Scamacca could get there though.
One from distance, held well, his first proper stop so far.
A good run and strike from Bowen goes wide, but he was offside.
Rice, Antonio and Benrahma all make way.
A couple of changes for Larnaca, West Ham about to make three.
Bowen, Scamacca and Soucek all about to come on here.
West Ham forced to clear a couple of times in quick succession here. Larnaca growing in threat.
Benrahma gets a shot off from the left but can't keep it down.
So close to a perfect hat-trick for Antonio there. Antonio's shot with his left foot hits the inside of the far post and goes across goal after good work from Lanzini and Benrahma, so close!
Back in action here.
Alphonse Areola - 6 Thilo Kehrer - 6 Kurt Zouma - 7 Nayef Aguerd - 7 Aaron Cresswell - 6 Flynn Downes - 6 Declan Rice - 7 Manuel Lanzini - 6 Pablo Fornals - 6 Michail Antonio - 7 Said Benrahma - 7
It's 2-0! Antonio again has hit one from 20 yards out! A brilliant finish, 2-0!
The Spaniard shoots from outside the box after a good Lanzini pass, tees himself up just over 20 yards out but shoots wide.
The goal was what West Ham needed. Nowehre near their best but looking more capable now in possession.
That goal puts Antonio joint-top for West Ham goals this season in all competitions. Benrahma two clear in the assist charts.
There we go! Michail Antonio makes it 1-0, heading in Said Benrahma's cross. That's the goal needed.
A very good mazy run from Benrahma, beats three players and shoots on the angle, which is saved.
A first shot of the game for West Ham, it falls for Lanzini on the edge of the box, whose shot goes across goal and wide.
But don't make it count. After winning a tackle, Cresswell charges forward and gets a cross into Antonio but it does not go near him.