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Will West Ham United Reach the Europa Conference League Final?

by Steve Ashfield | by Steve Ashfield

image Will West Ham United Reach the Europa Conference League Final?
The 2022/23 Europa Conference Legue is down to the last four. A year after being beaten at this stage in the Europa League, West Ham United bid to reach their first European final since 1976. Will the Premier League side make it to the final?

Prague Here We Come

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The second ever Europa Conference League final takes place in Prague on June 7. A first-time winnner will be crowned as Roma who won this competition last season are busy trying to win the Europa League this season. English Premier League side West Ham United take on AZ Alkmaar in one semifinal, while the other sees Fiorentina face Basel with the games taking place on May 11 and 18.

For West Ham United, it's been a strange season but one that could have a happy ending. Most of it has seen them battling relegation from the Premier League. Some improved results of late have them nearly safe from the drop. Meanwhile, they have enjoyed great success in the Europa Conference League. They come into this semifinal still unbeaten this season with 11 wins and one draw with all six of their home games being won with at least two goals scored in all but one of them.

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Dutch Delight for AZ?

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Unlike their opponents, AZ are likely to be in Europe next season regardless of how they get on in this season's Europa Conference League. They aren't in title contention in the Dutch Eredvisie but could catch third placed Ajax (who they recently drew with) and go into the Europa League.

AZ have had to come all the way from the qualifying rounds to reach this Europa Conference League semifinal. It's not been an easy route for them because of their away form. Three away games have already been lost, including one to Dundee United in the qualifying rounds. The last eight saw them have major problems getting past Anderlecht. They lost the away first leg 2-0 but won the second leg by the same scoreline. A penalty shootout was required to get them into this semifinal.

Only one of their last four away games have ended in victory. The worry they will have is that West Ham will build up a lead in the first leg that they cannot retrieve. Home form has seen them unbeaten in 12 Europa Conference League games played this and last season. What happens in the first leg in England is going to be very important but we feel West Ham can progress to the final.

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Swiss Success on the Way?

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The four clubs in the Europa Conference League semifinals all come from different countries. Three of them are from countries that have had plenty of European successes in the past, but the other comes from Switzerland.

Aside from winning the Intertoto Cup, no team from Switzerland has ever reached a major European final. Basel are hoping to be the first and are building on their last 16 appearance in last season's Europa Conference League. They are currently in fifth place in the Swiss Super League and may miss out on European football unless winning this competition. Having three players sent off in their most recent game hasn't helped the cause.

The club was formed 130 years ago so a European success would be a fantastic celebraton for them. They finished second behind Slovan Bratislava in their goup but only on head-to-head results. In the knockout play-off round, Basel had to come from behind to get past Trabzonspor 2-1 on aggregate. That took them into a last 16 tie where they again met Slovan Bratislava and both legs ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. In the away second leg, Basel needed a 92nd minute equalizer to stay in the tournament. They then won the penalty shootout 4-1 to progress. 

Extra time was also needed in the last eight. Another late equalizer was needed away at Nice but they then went on to win the tie. It's been a struggle to get this far and another difficult tie awaits them in the last four.

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Another Final for Fiorentina?

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Fiorentina have an exciting end to their season even though they are only eighth in Italy's Serie A. Their only route into European competition next season is going to be via either the Italian Cup or this Europa Conference League. They take on Basel in this competition but have already qualified to take on Inter in the Italian Cup.

A form guide for the last ten Serie A games has them in second place. However, only one of the last six has been won. In the Europa Conference League, They finished second behind Istanbul Basaksehir in the group stages but that was on head-to-head results after losing 3-0 to them on their travels. 

The goals flowed in the knockout play-off round with seven put past Braga, including four in Portugal. They were impressive in the last 16 too with another four goals scored at Sivasspor and did the same in the last eight. The away leg against Lech Poznan was won 4-1 but in the home second leg, they trailed 3-0 before two late goals got them through. Their goalscoring power may be too much for Basel in this semifinal.

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