Two hammers preside over the shield of West Ham United, lit up in 1895 under the name of Thames Ironworks, the shipping company that founded it for its workers on the banks of the River Thames. A club with few local titles (three FA Cups, the last in 1980) and a distant continental pedigree, because won the Recopa in 1965. Many of his fans describe this afternoon’s match as one of the most important in their history. Directed by the Scotsman David Moyes, who is remembered in Spain for his controversial stage at Real Sociedad, the hammers live days of wine and roses in which they rub shoulders with the elite of the Premier, trying in fact, snatch a Champions site from one of the behemoths of the richest championship in the world.
The thing is that West Ham meets Sevilla, even if it is this Sevilla diminished by casualties (follow the match live on As.com). History says that every time they have made it past the round of 16 of the former UEFA, the Nervión club has ended up winning the title. Six times, six, that has happened, epic without equal that could have a golden coronation if at the end of May raises the Seventh in its own stadium, where the final of this edition is played.
Without reaching herculean, the task brings them. West Ham comes without Bowen, one of their best attackers, and with the doubt of Declan Rice, for which they say someone will pay 100 million euros next summer. But he still has the French central defender Kurt Zouma, the Czech pivot Soucek, the irrepressible Michael Antonio, the class of the Argentinian Lanzini and the Castellón-born Fornals… a cast with quality but also very physical, who plays at a devilish pace. Just what this exhausted Seville lacks. Lopetegui recovered Anthony Martial for the list but still without the Montiel, Diego Carlos, Rekik, Fernando, Papu Gómez, Lamela and Suso, while also regretting the loss of Delaney, sanctioned. Just enough to place an eleven, draw history and await the magic of Nervión.