Last time out in the Europa League was a special occasion for West Ham. Whether this was to be the end of their European dream or one of the most celebrated nights in their recent history, the Hammers were always going to come out swinging.

And when you come at the kings, you better not miss, or you will go down swinging.

Sevilla are indisputably Europa League royalty, their six crowns putting them three ahead of the closest pretenders to the throne, and this year’s final is even set to be staged in their castle: the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

And so David Moyes’s players were tasked with learning on the job against these most experienced of foes, needing to execute an efficiency that was lacking seven days prior.

It was also a new experience for West Ham’s fans, who embraced the occasion by creating a unique atmosphere from any other at the London Stadium since the club’s move here in 2016.

In fact, the feeling inside the ground was unlike any at a West Ham game in not-so-recent memory. Whether or not the Premier League team were to progress, they were certain to be protagonists in one of the most monumental nights the club had seen in decades.

West Ham’s side shows two changes from the one which started the win over Sevilla last time out in the Europa League. The fit-again Jarrod Bowen starts, as does Ryan Fredericks at right-back, with Manuel Lanzini and Ben Johnson on the bench.

Lyon make three changes from the XI which began their victory over Porto in the Round of 16. Caqueret, Karl Toto Ekambi and Leo Dubois are out, replaced by Houssem Aouar, Malo Gusto and Jerome Boateng.

West Ham XI: Areola, Fredericks, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma

Lyon XI: Lopes, Gusto, Boateng, Lukeba, Emerson, Aouar, Ndombele, Mendes, Faivre, Lucas Paqueta, Dembele

Lyon have won four of their previous 10 trips to England with one draw and five defeats. They faced Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest in the 1990s as well as both Manchester clubs (Man Utd and Man City), both Merseryside clubs (Liverpool and Everton) and both North London clubs (Arsenal and Tottenham).

David Moyes says that Lyon’s wealth of experience in European competition will stand them in good stead for the quarter-final and he will be looking to the players who have experienced similar matches at other clubs to lead the way.

“Having that experience over the years can make a big difference,” admitted Moyes, “We don’t really have that, but the Czech boys [Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek] have played for Slavia in the Champions League – I’m hoping they can bring that to the table and help us.”

Jarrod Bowen made his return for West Ham on Saturday after a month out and so could start tonight. Ben Johnson has also been training well and will probably replace Ryan Fredericks at right-back with Vladimir Coufal starting on the bench.

Full team news should be out shortly.

Lyon coach, Peter Bosz, spoke about his opponents this evening and says that despite West Ham’s good form this season his team are coming to London to win tonight’s clash. He said:

“West Ham are having a very good season with positive results at home. They are doing things together.

“We have faced some good teams in our league too, and we had a good result in Porto. We are here to win this game.”

Lyons are struggling domestically. A 3-2 victory against Angers on Sunday was much needed by Peter Bosz’s men who sit ninth in Ligue 1, their worst placing at this stage of a top-flight campaign since the mid-90s.

More importantly they are eight points off the top three and potential Uefa Champions League qualification, and a further three adrift of second place and a guaranteed spot in European club football’s most lucrative group stage.

The Europa League may prove to be their best route into Europe’s biggest competition next season and as such they would need to win the trophy.

With West Ham also a way of the European qualifying spots in the Premier League winning this competition will be high on their priority list.

This should be a very intriguing encounter.

Lyon are one of four unbeaten group winners in this year’s Europa League and no team boasted more than the 16 goals they scored in a section also including Rangers, Sparta Prague and Brondby.

They only missed out on a 100% winning record with the matchday six draw at home to Rangers, a game that kicked off with the French club’s round of 16 berth already secure.

Porto were then beaten 2-1 on aggregate in the first knockout stage to ensure Lyon reached the last eight.

West Ham have never faced Lyon in competitive football and have only played one team from France in their history.

They played Metz in a two-legged Intertoto Cup tie in 1999. The Hammers lost the home leg 1-0, but prevailed 3-1 in the return to reach the Uefa Cup proper.