West Ham vs NK Domzale: What time does it start, why isn't it on TV, team news, where to watch it?
Everything you need to know about the Europa League clash at the Olympic Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.West Ham make their Olympic Stadium debut this evening with a high-stakes Europa League qualifier against Domzale just seven days after suffering a 2-1 first-leg defeat by the Slovenian outfit.
A near sell-out 54,000 crowd is expected in Stratford this evening as Slaven Bilic looks to keep the pre-season optimism flowing unlike last year when the Hammers surrendered their European spot in the Croat’s first weeks in charge.
Defeat could seriously scupper West Ham’s hopes of seamlessly acclimatising to life across the capital at their new home.
Manchester City and Arsenal, who have both moved to the Etihad and Emirates stadiums respectively since the turn of the millennium, can testify that ground moves can occasionally be tricky affairs.
“It doesn't feel like a home game,” Bilic said this week.
“We will do the same things - go for a meal, get on the coach, but instead of Upton Park, we'll be coming here in front of 54,000. There's no better way to adjust to a new stadium than playing in it.”
Last time around, Matic Crnic converted an early penalty but on 16 minutes the visitors equalised, Mark Noble slotting home a spot-kick of his own. Crnic struck again early in the second half to leave West Ham teetering over the edge of another early elimination.
When is it?
West Ham kick-off their new era at the Olympic Stadium at 7.45pm on Thursday August 4 ahead of the Premier League opener against Chelsea in just under a fortnight.
Where can I watch it?
The match is not available to watch on British television despite BT Sport providing live coverage of the first-leg in Ljubljana.
What are the odds?
West Ham 1/4
Draw 5/1
Domzale 11/1
(Odds provided by BetVictor after 90 minutes only)
What is being said?
Assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic: “It will be very difficult but I'm optimistic and I hope it will be a different game in the Olympic Stadium. We must be better. We must win this game in our stadium because we also have big ambitions in Europe.”
Co-chairman David Sullivan: “I was certainly scratching my head to explain why we couldn't hit our usual high levels of performance, and I am sure Slaven and his coaching staff were too. "We know we have to do better - and we will.”
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