West Ham United, Olympique Lyon seek Europa League last 16 tickets

Hammers, Lyon only 2 clubs to have won all their 3 matches in Europa League groups, both chase easiest way to last 16

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – English football club West Ham United and France's Olympique Lyon are the only two clubs to have a flawless run in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League as both of them eye fourth wins on Thursday to have a smooth path for the last 16 phase.

Nicknamed the Hammers, West Ham have won all their three matches to lead Group H with nine points in three matches.

Dinamo Zagreb, Rapid Vienna, and Genk have three points each in this group.

Similar to West Ham, Lyon are on top of their group as they bagged three victories to have nine points in Group A.

On matchday four, West Ham will visit Belgium's Genk in a Group H match on Thursday.

The Hammers are also perfect on goal difference as they have scored seven goals so far but conceded none.

Meanwhile the Group A leaders Lyon will face Czech opponents Sparta Prague at OL Stadium in France's Decines on Thursday.

After three matches in Group A, Sparta Prague have four points to be in the second spot.

Rangers have three and Brondby have one point in this group.

- Format

A total of 32 clubs in eight groups are competing to be among the last 16 teams in the UEFA Europa League.

The eight group winners will automatically qualify for the last 16 stage.

Before the round of 16, additional knockout round playoffs will be played in February once the matchday six in the Europa League will end on Dec. 9.

In the playoffs, eight Europa League group runners-up will face eight third-ranked clubs from the UEFA Champions League groups for a limited number of last 16 tickets in the competition.

The Europa League matches will go on to be played on Thursday except the 2022 final that will be held on May 18 in Seville's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, the home of Sevilla.

- Matchday 4 fixtures in Europa League

Thursday:

Galatasaray - Lokomotiv Moscow

Brondby - Rangers

Olympique Lyon - Sparta Prague

Real Sociedad - Sturm Graz

Monaco - PSV Eindhoven

Legia Warsaw - Napoli

Olympiacos - Eintracht Frankfurt

Genk - West Ham United

Leicester City - Spartak Moscow

Antwerp - Fenerbahce