"?West Ham United must overcome the challenge of Astra Giurgiu to reach the Europa League group stage this season after being paired with the Romanian champions in the competition's playoff round.
It marks a rematch after the two clubs met in the third qualifying round last year, with Astra shocking the Hammers early into Slaven Bilic's reign with a 4-3 aggregate win.
BREAKING: West Ham United will face Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu in the @EuropaLeague Play-off round ? pic.twitter.com/gxkISLxxqL
Having beaten Steaua Bucharest to the Romanian title in 2015/16, Astra actually began this season's European adventure in the Champions League, knocked into the Europa League after losing out to FC Copenhagen this week.
As a seeded team in the drawn West Ham automatically avoided facing the likes of Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Shakhtar Donetand Anderlecht.
Brondby, Grasshopper, Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade and Rosenborg were among the clubs that had been available to the east end side.
The first leg against Astra will be played in Romania on Thursday 18th August, with the return at the Olympic Stadium scheduled for a week later on 25th August.
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