West Ham United: Supercomputer predicts likelihood of Europa League title ahead of clash v Freiburg
West Ham are the seventh-most likely team to win the Europa League this season, according to Opta’s supercomputer.
The sports analytics company tweeted a graphic on Thursday (7 March), showing the Hammers have a 4.6 per cent chance of winning the competition this year, with favourites Liverpool estimated to have a 29.9 per cent likelihood of European glory come May.
The Irons head to Germany on Thursday to face Bundesliga side Freiburg, who are predicted to have just a 1 per cent chance of lifting the trophy ahead of the last-16 fixture.
West Ham in the mix for Europa League glory
There are a few quality teams left in the Europa League heading into the last-16 ties, so it isn’t a massive surprise to see West Ham seventh on the list.
While they probably are a better team on paper than some of the sides above them, their form since the turn of the year has probably affected their chances of winning the trophy.
But after picking up back-to-back victories against Brentford and Everton, there is some renewed optimism about the Hammers’ hopes heading into the game against Freiburg.
David Moyes’s side are believed to have a 63.7 per cent chance of overcoming the Bundesliga outfit and making it through to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The key thing at our disposal is that the majority of the players were around for the Europa Conference League success last season and that experience could be a valuable asset if we make it into the latter rounds this year.
In other West Ham news, sources have claimed a Premier League manager is now in the frame to replace Moyes.
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