West Ham United will need to come from behind to progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League after falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their round of 16 clash against SC Freiburg in Germany.
After an early burst from the Breisgau Brazilians, neither team looked too likely to break the deadlock ahead of the break, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus arguably the most likely for David Moyes’ men.
The game opened up in the second half and Dinos Mavropanos and Lucas Paquetá spurned good opportunities to score, before Freiburg substitute Michael Gregoritsch popped up with the winner with nine minutes to go.
The teams will do it again in east London next Thursday with a spot in the last eight at stake, following West Ham’s next clash at home to Burnley on Sunday, back in the Premier League.
Watch highlights from the game in the video player above.
