West Ham United 1-0 Olympiacos
UEFA Europa League Group A matchday four, London Stadium, Saturday 4 November, 8pm GMT
After West Ham United’s 17-game unbeaten run in Europe was ended away to Olympiacos, revenge was tasked – and brilliantly delivered – by a Lucas Paquetá stunner at London Stadium.
David Moyes’ men have been European group winners in both 2020/21 and 2022/23, and victory took the Hammers closer to achieving that feat for the third straight season.
For much of the match, the Hammers were frustrated, although the creative No10 had other ideas.
Paquetá’s neat finish 17 minutes from time stretched the Irons' home European unbeaten run to ten matches - and most importantly kept West Ham top of Group A.
Having frustrated David Moyes’ men in Pireaus, the Hammers’ fourth UEFA Europa league outing of 2023/24 proved a similar affair for long periods in east London. A first half devoid of few chances did little to add some heat to a cold November night, despite West Ham's best efforts.
Alexandros Paschalakis was the busier of the two goalkeepers, and twice denied Saïd Benrahma before the interval. One effort curled towards the top corner. The other towards the bottom right. Each time, Paschalakis’ palm pushed the ball wide of the post and Hammers had to go again.
There were sparks from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in attack too, while Nayef Aguerd twice sent a header at goal, but the Hammers attack was simmering by the half-time whistle. It needed a player to turn the heat up.
By the time the ball fell to Paquetá in the 73rd minute, chances had come and gone for James Ward-Prowse and Benrahma in the second half, but the No10 wasn’t going to miss his moment in the spotlight.
Ward-Prowse, to this credit, put it on a plate for the No10, who finished a chipped pass with ease from ten yards out. And while an offside flag cut the Brazilian’s celebrations short, a VAR check sent Paquetá back wheeling away in front of the Hammers faithful, dancing to the tune of the Hammers' third victory of this European campaign.
Of course, a 1-0 scoreline was always going to serve an anxious end as Olympiacos pushed forward. After Mady Camara struck the post from close range, Rodinei had the visitors last chance, one which to the relief of the Hammers in attendance arrowed up and over Łukasz Fabiański’s goal.
Perhaps, European nights have seen more action over the past couple of years, but a win was the most important task. One West Ham, led by Paquetá, dully delivered.
West Ham United: Fabiański ©, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson, Álvarez (Souček 80), Ward-Prowse, Kudus (Mubama 89), Paquetá, Benrahma (Cornet 84), Bowen
Subs not used: Areola (GK), Anang (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Antonio, Ings, Ogbonna, Kehrer
Goal: Paquetá 73
Booked: Álvarez, Kudus, Bowen
Olympiacos: Paschalakis, Rodinei, Porozo, Retsos, Ortega, Hezze (Pep Biel 89), Alexandropoulos (Scarpa 76), Camara, Podence, Jovetić (El Kaabi 56), Fortounis ©
Subs not used: Tzolakis (GK), Papadoudis (GK), Iborra, El-Arabi, Quini, Masouras, Joāo Carvalho, Ntoi, Solbakken
Booked: Podence, Porozo, Fortunis, Camara
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Attendance: 55,811
