West Ham secured a spot in the Europa League Round of 16 without the need for a play-off against a team descending from the Champions League, thanks to a convincing victory over Freiburg.
With the knowledge that a draw would secure the top spot in Group A, West Ham took the lead as Mohammed Kudus controlled Edson Alvarez’s precise pass on his chest and calmly slotted the ball in.
The Hammers extended their advantage when Mexican midfielder Alvarez scored his first goal for West Ham with a clever finish after a dynamic run, just three minutes before halftime.
Following this strong start, West Ham continued to dominate, maintaining their control and intensity in a confident performance. Freiburg, currently positioned eighth in the German Bundesliga, posed minimal threat in response.
In the last half-hour, the away team showed some improvement, and Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a crucial save against Ritsu Doan’s curling shot. However, the loss resulted in the visitors securing the second position in the group, trailing behind West Ham.
Expressing the significance of avoiding the play-off round, West Ham manager David Moyes stated that it was “truly significant” for the club.
Why it was so important to avoid a play-off
While West Ham and Freiburg had already secured their spots in European football for the New Year, the possibility of bypassing a play-off added significant stakes to the match at the London Stadium.
Claiming the top spot in the group would allow West Ham to delay Europa League action until early March, thereby lessening the impact of additional games on an already crowded fixture list.
The eight group winners will directly enter the last-16 draw, scheduled for Monday. However, the eight runners-up will need to navigate a two-legged tie against a third-placed team from the Champions League groups.
The draw holds potential challenges, with seven-time European champions AC Milan among the formidable teams in the mix. Galatasaray, Benfica, and Shakhtar Donetsk, all national league champions with extensive continental experience, are also teams that would be best avoided.
On the importance of swerving the two-legged play-off, Moyes told TNT Sports: “It is really massive at the moment because of the amount of games we’ve got and the scheduling – it’s so important for the players and the staff.
“We’re going into a really busy period and our culture means we play a lot of games at Christmas.
“But it seems they are squeezing in other games where they can, which seems a bit ridiculous to be honest.”
Alvarez shows importance to the Hammers
West Ham understood that a draw would secure their top position, given the superior head-to-head record over Freiburg from their 2-1 away victory in October.
Despite this knowledge, Moyes emphasized the importance of winning, and his players responded with a spirited performance.
The Hammers suffered a 5-0 defeat at Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, grappling with disruptions caused by a sickness bug affecting the squad.
Alvarez, 26, was among the absentees during the loss at Craven Cottage but made a impactful return, showcasing his significance with a commanding performance against Freiburg.
Having been signed to fill the void left by the departure of talismanic midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal, Alvarez demonstrated his vision by accurately picking out Kudus for the opening goal in the 14th minute with a wonderfully-timed run.
The £35 million acquisition reaffirmed his skill by taking on the Freiburg defense, engaging in slick passing with Jarrod Bowen, and calmly placing the ball past the visiting goalkeeper, Noah Atubolu.
Despite picking up a dead leg in the first half, Alvarez was substituted after 54 minutes, with Moyes mindful of the demanding Christmas schedule for the Hammers.
Addressing the impact of summer signings like Alvarez and Kudus, Moyes remarked, “It has started well and the longer we will be together it will work much better.
“We’re still introducing players who are new to the league and new to playing with us. I think they’ve done well.
“We’re not halfway through the season and they’ve made massive contributions.”