class=”article_teaser__2t5do”>Having started the season in impressive fashion, Al Hain-Cole expects the Hammers to prove far too strong for Kuhbauer's struggling team
West Ham will be looking to make it six points from six when they welcome Rapid Vienna to the London Stadium for Thursday’s Europa League clash.
The Hammers enjoyed an impressive return to European football in their opening Group H clash, running out 2-0 winners away to Dinamo Zagreb.
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West Ham vs Rapid Vienna latest odds
Having lost just one out of eight matches in all competitions so far this season, West Ham are 1/4 (1.25) favourites with bet365 to maintain their strong form by coming out on top here.
Dietmar Kuhbauer’s Rapid Vienna have lost 10 of their last 14 away games in this competition and are clear 10/1 (11.0) outsiders to pull off a shock victory in this one, or priced at 5/1 (6.0) to even earn a point.
West Ham vs Rapid Vienna team news
Ryan Fredericks is the only absentee for the hosts, having suffered a recurrence of his groin injury in last week’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.
Christopher Dibon, Richard Strebinger, Oliver Strunz and Lion Schuster are all absent through injury for the visitors.
West Ham vs Rapid Vienna preview
Having fielded an almost full-strength side for the victorious trip to Zagreb, there is no doubt that David Moyes is taking this competition extremely seriously after leading the team back into Europe for the first time in five years.
With an expectant home crowd behind them, his team will be eager to build on a promising start to the season that sees them come into this clash on the back of three wins in the last four games.
That should not prove too difficult considering Rapid’s recent record on the road in this competition, as well as their failure to win any of the last six fixtures in normal time.
Indeed, the Austrian champions have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions and are currently second to bottom in their domestic league after nine matches.
West Ham vs Rapid Vienna tips & predictions
All in all, odds of 8/11 (1.73) actually seem rather generous on a confident West Ham team winning by at least two clear goals against an out-of-sorts Rapid Vienna on Thursday.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.