West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt harbor dreams of Champions League action next season as the two meet in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal series.
Both teams do not currently occupy a high enough standings position in their respective domestic league table to qualify automatically for next season's Champions League. So they will be looking to qualify for the top European club competition by winning the Europa League. That's because the Europa League champion earns an automatic berth to the richest club tournament in the world, a glittering perk of hoisting the trophy.
The Hammers sat in a top four place for much of the Premier League's first half, but fading league form has seen them fall out of contention. They have maintained top gear in European competition, however, topping Sevilla and Lyon in the knockout stages to reach the Europa League semifinal.
Eintracht Frankfurt casts an even more distinct shadow, down in 9th in the Bundesliga table but unbeaten in continental competition, triumphing over the likes of Real Betis, Olympiacos, and the mighty Barcelona to reach this stage.
The clash is an intriguing one, with a spot in the Europa League final in Seville on the line.
MORE: How to watch West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in Europa League semifinal first leg
West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt betting odds
West Ham is a home favorite against the German side in London, with Frankfurt not given too much of a chance by the bookmakers.
Also, interestingly, despite Frankfurt putting three past a defensively stout Barcelona on the road in the previous round, the under is the slight favorite.
| USA (DraftKings) | Canada (Sports Interaction) | UK (SkyBet) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham Win | -105 | -103 | -118 |
| Draw | +250 | +259 | +250 |
| Frankfurt Win | +310 | +251 | +290 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals | +100 / -115 | -105 / -120 | — |
| Both teams to score Y / N | -130 / +100 | -135 / -116 | -138 / +100 |
| West Ham -0.5 | -105 | -111 | — |
| Frankfurt +0.5 | -110 | -115 | — |
West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt prediction
This matchup is a perfect encapsulation of what the Europa League is all about — a high-stakes and fascinating chess match that always has the potential of getting seriously weird.
When analyzing the teams, West Ham has the best player on the field in Declan Rice, but Eintracht Frankfurt has the better statistical profile this season. Often, those two things cancel out, and it's surprising that the home side is such an overwhelming favorite in what appears to be an even matchup.
Yes, West Ham has proven defensively stout through European play, conceding just five goals across 10 Europa League matches. Still, this Eintracht Frankfurt team managed to score three times against an even better defensive side in Barcelona at the Camp Nou. It has also found the back of the net in every single Europa League match this season.
Moneyline lean: Draw (+235 on DraftKings)
Against the Spread lean: Eintracht Frankfurt
Scoreline prediction: West Ham 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
MORE: How much will Declan Rice cost? A look at a transfer saga set to dominate the summer
West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt best bets & expert analysis
West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt best bet
In all honesty, it's a complete mystery why the odds suggest there won't be goals in this game, so we're going to pounce. West Ham's prior defensive record in this competition is the only suggestion that there won't be goals in this game, and even that is suspect.
West Ham has conceded 48.31 expected goals (xG) this season in the Premier League, putting them in the bottom half of the league with that mark. In the Europa League, it's much of the same — West Ham won 3-0 in Lyon despite OL whiffing on 1.75 xG, the latest in a string of goalscoring underperformance by West Ham opponents across all four Europa League knockout matches.
Eintracht Frankfurt is, on the flip side, a very good goalscoring side. Its 60.53 xG mark in league play puts Frankfurt fourth in a high-scoring Bundesliga. The German side has gone over 2.5 goals in seven of its 10 Europa League games, meaning there's plenty of goalscoring potential in this game.
Pick: Over 2.5 goals (+100 on DraftKings)
West Ham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt flier: Assists
Even if this bet doesn't ultimately cash in, the odds are so utterly outrageous that it's a mystery how this is even on the board.
Filip Kostic was the man of the hour against Barcelona, bagging a brace in the Camp Nou, but he's usually the creative force that makes the Eintracht Frankfurt attack go.
His 14.13 expected assists (xA) number in league play is tops in the Bundesliga this season by nearly a whopping 3.0, a shocking position given the presence of the high-flying and star-studded Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund squads. He has collected 22 key passes in Europa League play, second in the entire competition.
There's no reason Frankfurt can't find the back of the net, and there's no reason it won't come from Filip Kostic's creative play. The odds for such a creative player are utterly delicious.
Prop kicker: Filip Kostic to assist (+550)
