West Ham vs Backa Topola predictions: Europa League tips and odds

Our betting expert has three tips for the Europa League Group A game between West Ham United and Backa Topola at the London Stadium on Thursday (kick-off, 8pm BST). Scroll down to see the analysis behind his selections.

West Ham vs Backa Topola betting tips

Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

Already used the Unibet sign-up offer? Check out all the latest bookmaker offers and the best betting sites.

Back Backa and Hammers to score

Last season’s Europa Conference League winners West Ham move up a tier and begin their Europa League campaign against Backa Topola of Serbia.

But they are no strangers to this competition, having reached the semi-finals in 2021-22 only to lose to the eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Backa top the Serbian Super League thanks to six wins from seven outings but were crushed 7-1 over two legs by Braga in the Champions League qualifiers and could be in for another rough night.

Goals have been a real feature of West Ham’s games this season and they could again flow at the London Stadium. In all five of their Premier League outings  both teams have scored and David Moyes’s side have netted an admirable 10 to date, helping them to sit sixth in the table.

Backa had kept five successive clean sheets before Saturday’s 6-3 victory over Zeleznicar Pancevo, who are one place off the bottom. Their attacking record suggests that they could grab a goal on Thursday, but their defensive record suggests that West Ham will as well.

West Ham vs Backa Topola tip 1: Both teams to score @ 6/5 with Unibet

Bowen’s on fire in Europe

Jarrod Bowen scored arguably the most famous goal in West Ham’s modern history when he fired past Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terraciano to win the Conference League final.

The 26-year-old has proved to be a go-to man in Europe, netting nine times in 21 appearances across the Europa and Conference Leagues.

Moyes is likely to select a strong side ahead of tougher tests against Olympiacos and Freiburg. Bowen should start and, with three goals to his name this season, he appeals at the right side of evens.

West Ham vs Backa Topola tip 2: Jarrod Bowen any-time goalscorer @ 11/10 with Unibet

A dearth of corners, JWP and a card for Djordjevic?

There are plenty of potential bet-builder options but one worth considering is a dearth of corners. For all of the Hammers’ success this season, their best play has come on the counter-attack and they have taken on average just 4.2 corners a game.

Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse’s ability at dead-ball situations makes him an attractive choice. The midfielder has scored twice since joining from Southampton and provided three assists.

And finally, visiting defender Mateja Djordjevic was booked in both legs against Braga and another caution could see him complete a tidy bet builder.

West Ham vs Backa Topola tip 3: Bet builder – Under 6.5 corners, James Ward-Prowse any-time goalscorer and Mateja Djordjevic to be booked @ 25/1 with Unibet

West Ham vs Backa Topola odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.