For our AEK Larnaca vs. West Ham prediction, we're going for a 1-1 draw.
West Ham hope to brighten up a miserable season as they travel to Cyprus to face AEK Larnica in the Europa Conference League last 16.
AEK Larnica reached the last 16 of the Europa Conference League by finishing 3rd in Europa League Group B, a group containing Fenerbahce, Rennes and Dynamo Kyiv before running out 1-0 winners on aggregate following a two-legged tie against Dnipro in the play-off round.
They enter this game amidst a mixed run of form having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions.
Most recently AEK ran out 3-1 winners at home to Enosis in the league at the weekend, a win that brought an end to a three-match winless run.
AEK still sit top of the Cypriot first division but only by a single point and having played a game more than APOEL, with successive league defeats at the end of February eating into the cushion they had over their title rivals.
Their home form is still mightily strong, mind, with AEK going unbeaten in their last twelve matches having won four of their last five on home soil.
AEK have been given one of the tougher draws here but considering West Ham's form they won't feel this will be as tough as it looks on paper.
West Ham reached the Europa Conference League last 16 by finishing top of Conference League Group B, a group containing Anderlecht, Silkeborg and FCSB.
The Hammers have had a poor season by all accounts this time around after impressing so much under David Moyes last year as they find themselves 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.
It's not all doom and gloom, though, as The Hammers' form has been poor all season and despite this their form in Europe has seemed unaffected by their struggles in the Premier League as they've won every single game they've played in this competition this season, including qualifiers.
Their league form is still very worrying, however, as they've lost three of their last four games in the league and they enter this game fresh off the back of a 4-0 hammering away at Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.
Their away form in general is very poor, with Moyes' men failing to win any of their last eleven league matches on the road.
Defeat here, and especially in the tie, would put a significant amount of pressure on David Moyes as they approach a pivotal stage of their season. They could really benefit from a good run in this competition for the aid of morale boost and they've been given a fairly kind matchup. Whether they can take advantage of that or not is a different question.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.
