West Ham in Andorra: What Europa League trip to Lusitans holds

West Ham could face a capacity crowd for their trip to FC Lusitans on Thursday night – of just 1,300 people.

The Hammers travel to Andorra for the second leg of their Europa League qualifying tie, having won 3-0 at Upton Park last week against a team which was only formed in 1999.

The sides meet in the Estadi Comunal d’Andorra la Vella, which only caters for a small crowd but boasts an incredible Pyrenean backdrop.

Slaven Bilic already knows the stadium, having travelled there with Croatia during qualifying for Euro 2008, when his side ran out 6-0 winners.

The new West Ham boss left academy coach Terry Westley in charge for the first leg, drawing criticism from Lusitans coach Xavi Roura for not showing his side respect.

Westley may well again take charge for Thursday's match, and it's unclear whether Bilic will travel to Andorra with the squad.

If he does go, he'll undoubtedly have a simpler journey than the 450 travelling Hammers fans, who have to make their own way to the ground with no official travel set up by the club.

Supporters either face a flight to the north-east of Spain before a three-hour drive into the mountains, or a train journey from London to the Andorran border before a bus journey through the Pyrenees.

West Ham's squad won't be the first Premier League players to perform at the stadium.

Robin van Persie scored twice against Andorra as the Netherlands won 2-0 in front of 500 people to secure their place in the 2014 World Cup finals. Tottenham's Michel Vorm, Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar and former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt were involved that night too. 

Meanwhile, Kevin Doyle and Aiden McGeady netted for the Republic of Ireland as they also won 2-0 at the Estadio Comunal, with Shay Given, John O’Shea and Shane Long also among those involved.

Lusitans do not have a set stadium, with the Andorran Football Federation organising fixtures from their Primera Divisio among the four stadiums they own in the principality.

However, they will hope home advantage plays its part on Thursday night, when they attempt to overturn their first-leg deficit to Bilic's side.