West Ham fans are facing a trip down memory lane after being paired with Anderlecht in the Europa Conference League group stage.

The two sides met in the 1975-76 European Cup Winners’ Cup final when the Belgian side won 4-2 in Brussels.

The Hammers, Europa League semi-finalists last season, were also paired with Bucharest-based Romanian FCSB and Danish club Silkeborg in Group B.

FCSB was previously known as Steaua Bucharest, who were crowned European champions in 1986.

Pulling Silkeborg means an early return to Denmark for West Ham, who won 3-0 at Viborg on Thursday to complete a 6-1 aggregate play-off victory.

David Moyes hailed the West Ham draw saying: “I just saw it and it’s good. I can not wait to be there. There are good teams in there.

“We had a pretty tough draw with our group but we’re looking forward to it.”

Hearts seems to have a tough section in Group A.

Robbie Neilson’s side saw their Europa League ambitions dashed with a 3-1 play-off loss to Zurich on Thursday.

Hearts will now face Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina and Latvian champions RFS.

Istanbul Basaksehir, who qualified for the group stage with a play-off victory over Antwerp, have former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil and Bertrand Traore on loan at Aston Villa in their ranks.

Fiorentina finished seventh in Serie A last season and beat Dutch side Twente 2-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage.

Shamrock Rovers have been paired with Gent, Molde and Djurgardens in Group F.

West Ham regained their goalscoring touch as they booked another European tour with a 3-0 win over Danish side Viborg.

The Hammers, without a point or a goal after three Premier League games, ran out comfortable 6-1 aggregate winners over the two legs of their qualifying play-off to reach the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca, the £30million signing from Sassuolo, opened the scoring midway through the first half with his second goal in two European appearances.

Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek also found the net after the break to seal an ultimately cozy evening in front of 1,000 rowdy traveling fans in Denmark.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, last season’s Europa League semi-finalists knew an early goal would calm nerves and Soucek narrowly headed for a corner before Scamacca’s first low shot was saved .

The first goal came after 22 minutes when full-back Ben Johnson fed Soucek down the right wing and the Czech midfielder’s cross was deftly swept aside by Scamacca at the near post.

Viborg almost equalized when former Leeds striker Jay-Roy Grot edged past Manuel Lanzini and fired narrowly wide.

Jakob Bonde, the goalscorer for Viborg in east London, then planted a free header directly at Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

And West Ham were living dangerously before half-time when Areola had to make a double save to prevent Grot and Justin Lonwijk.

But they doubled their lead six minutes into the second half when Benrahma raced the ball deep from Maxwel Cornet and scored home.

It was three o’clock just after the hour mark when Soucek took the rebound after Thilo Kehrer’s header was blocked.

Cornet should have opened his West Ham account moments later when he was tackled by Benrahma, but the Burnley summer signing somehow lifted the ball over an open goal.

Nonetheless, it was a satisfying night’s work for David Moyes’ side and their fans, who will know where their second straight European adventure takes them in Friday’s draw.

Hamrun’s splendid Euro run ended yesterday when they drew 3-3 with Partizan Belgrade in the second leg at Ta’ Qali to go out 7-3 on aggregate. The 1-4 defeat in Belgrade last week left little room for a possible comeback by Branko Nisevic’s side, but the Spartans still gave their all yesterday even taking the lead in the first half and then making an excellent return at the end of the match to win a prestigious draw.

The Spartans were the better team in the first half yesterday but Partizan got an immediate equalizer and it was all but the end of Hamrun’s residual hopes of qualifying for the group stages.

In the second half, Partizan took the right steps and Hamrun gradually lost his temper and Partizan took full advantage of that by scoring two goals in the last quarter of the game, but Hamrun didn’t throw in the towel and thanks at two late penalties, the Spartans got a more than deserved equaliser.

However, it was an incredible journey for the Spartans who should cherish this valuable experience and be given another chance next season. The Spartans will now focus on the home stage where next Monday they will face none other than the champions Hibernians in their league opener.

The form the Spartans have shown in these European clashes should make them strong favorites to win the title this season, but the Spartans will need to keep their feet on the ground, and that will be mainly Nisevic’s task.

Hamrun stormed through their opponents in the first half, trying to reverse Belgrade’s three-goal deficit. They had several good attempts and several near misses, but in the 27th minute Hamrun took a deserved lead when Prsa fired home while served by Guillaumier.

But the Spartans’ joy and hope of recovery was dashed seven minutes later when Gomes fired home from a corner, with the Spartans defense unable to clear the danger.

In the second half, the Spartans lost much of their attacking flair and Partizan took the lead in the 72nd minute when Urosevic dribbled his way inside the box to beat Bonello with a low drive. Seven minutes later, Partizan were on the velvet with the game’s best move with Andrade squared towards Gomes heading home.

But the Spartans were determined to bow out in style and they managed to do so much to the delight of the thousands of loyal Spartans supporters who once again filled the main stand at the National Stadium. In the 82nd minute, the first penalty for a handling foul, converted by Vinicius, and in injury time another penalty for the Spartans with Fedele making it 3-3 from the spot.

Hamrun S: Henry Bonello, Matthew Guillaumier (79′ Matteo Fedele), Luke Montebello (63′ Jonny), Elvis Mashike (73′ Igor Nedeljkovic), Ailton Jorge Soares ‘Dodo’, Roko Prsa, Rodrigo Callegari Torre, Mousa Balla Sowe, Ognjen Bjelicic, Emerson Marcelina, Ryan Camenzuli (79′ Vinicius Freitas).

Supporter: Aleksandar Popovic, Sinisa Sanicanin, Igor Vujacic, Svetozar Markovic, Patrick Andrade, Queensy Menig (69′ Kristian Belic), Ricardo Gomes, Ljubomir Fejsa, Marko Zivkovic, Foussein Diabate (74′ Bibras Natcho), Slobodan Urosevic (79′ Zlatan Sehovic) .

Referee: Jakob Kelhet (Denmark)

Photo: Domenic Aquilina

WOLVERHAMPTON: A stunner from Allan-Saint-Maximin saved a point for Newcastle United at Wolverhampton Wanderers to continue the Magpies’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

The Frenchman, the star of the show against Manchester City the previous week, was once again the Magpies’ talisman as he produced some late magic to bring home the equalizer on the fly with time running out.

Wolves opened the scoring early on when Ruben Neves produced a Goal of the Month contender to put Bruno Lage’s men ahead.

On the selection front, United suffered a major blow before the game when news of an injury to Bruno Guimaraes broke, along with the fact that club-record Alexander Isak did not receive a international authorization or time work permit.

As a result, Chris Wood started in the lead, with Sean Longstaff in the middle.

While United have a well-equipped backline, significantly strengthened over the past six months with the additions of Dan Burn, Nick Pope and Sven Botman, the only thing missing is pace, and it was clear the home side was looking to exploit gaps wide and over the top.

One of those direct balls exploited that weakness and a Wolves play in the area was cut over the bar by Pedro Neto.

United, playing for the first time in their Saudi-inspired green and white kit, dominated in terms of shots in the first 45, but few shots troubled goalkeeper Jose Sa.

The best of all Newcastle openings came to Joe Willock, although the preparation was not without controversy.

Sean Longstaff had his shirt pulled in the area as he tried to work an opening but nothing was given when the ball broke to Willock, who swung six yards wide as he appeared easier to score.

While United had more effort towards goal, it was Wolves who were easily the most dangerous, and Goncalo Guedes went inches from the opener.

Another, this time directed down the right flank, forced skipper Kieran Trippier into an error and a ball into the box was deflected by the Portuguese leader.

The opener went on 38 minutes – and not much could be done about that from Newcastle’s perspective. The home side worked the ball wide to the right and then kicked in a strike for Neves, who crashed 20 yards out. It was hard to tell he hadn’t come.

United produced their best work on the break in the first 45, with Wolves on the front foot – but for much of the second half the tables turned, with Magpies the hunters and Wolves chasing them.

Although, as United advanced, they struggled to really create any notable chances. Centre-back Fabian Schar threatened a leveler but his deflected effort slipped inches from Sa’s post.

Knocking on the door with determination, United made all five substitutions in search of a second-half equaliser.

They had a caution about eight minutes from time as Raul Jimenez saw a goal scored for a foul in the build-up. VAR, as it did last week, had a big final say on the matchday’s final points destination.

It was a world-class moment – ​​and a defensive mistake by Wolves – that opened the door for the Magpies.

Substitute Jacob Murphy broke down on the right and when a poorly cleared ball fell around 20 yards from goal, no one expected what was to come.

Saint-Maximin, shifted in the lead for the final stages, stabilized and flew on the volley, which nestled in the bottom corner of the Wolves goal. His was just a spectator.

It was no less than what the Magpies deserved, with neither side doing enough to earn a thrilling encounter at Molineux.

And United could have won it, although it might have been an unfair result, as youngster Elliot Anderson hit the bar with a header from a corner.

The result, for now at least, sees United climb to eighth in the table and, as previously mentioned, continue their unbeaten start to the campaign, which now stretches to five matches, including four in the Premier League.