High stakes as Russia travel to Slovakia

Neither side can afford a slip-up as Slovakia take on Russia in Group B, with any dropped points likely to prove costly in the battle for a place at UEFA EURO 2012.

• Russia sit top of the section, but are just two points clear of the Republic of Ireland – who meet Andorra – and three ahead of Armenia and Slovakia, with the head-to-head record favouring the former.

• Defeat for Slovakia, combined with a win for Ireland, would end their hopes of reaching next summer's finals.

• Slovakia beat Russia 1-0 in Moscow in their opening Group B meeting on 7 September 2010, with an unstoppable Miroslav Stoch drive after 27 minutes doing the damage.

• Slovakia's record in six games against Russia reads W2 D3 L1 (W1 D1 L0 at home). Prior to those contests, Czechoslovakia met the Soviet Union on 12 occasions, with a record of W2 D4 L6 (W1 D3 L0 in games played in Slovakia).

• Róbert Vittek earned Slovakia a share of the spoils in their first 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Russia in Moscow on 4 September 2004, the forward registering three minutes from time to cancel out Dmitri Bulykin's 14th-minute opener for the hosts. The return fixture in Bratislava on 12 October the following year ended goalless.

• That second result ensured that Slovakia finished runners-up behind Portugal in Group 3, with Russia level on points but eliminated on the head-to-head rule. Slovakia advanced to a play-off with Spain, which they lost 6-2 on aggregate.

• Aside from those qualifiers, the two sides have met in three friendly internationals, drawing 1-1 in Moscow on 31 May 2000 and securing a 2-1 home win apiece, with Slovakia prevailing in Kosice on 8 March 1995 and Russia in Moscow on 29 May 1994.

• The teams had only previously crossed paths in UEFA European Championship action as constituent parts of the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, the latter running out 4-2 aggregate winners in the second qualifying round of the 1976 edition.

• Czechoslovakia won the first leg 2-0 in Bratislava on 24 April 1976 and drew 2-2 in Kyiv a month later on their way to winning the tournament that June, defeating West Germany 5-3 on penalties after drawing 2-2 following extra time.

• That victory avenged Czechoslovakia's 3-0 semi-final loss to the Soviet Union in Marseille at the 1960 UEFA European Championship. The victors went on to beat Yugoslavia 2-1 after extra time in the final.

• The last competitive meetings between the former entities came in 1982 World Cup qualifying, with the Soviet Union triumphing 2-0 in Tbilisi on 28 October 1981 and drawing 1-1 in Bratislava the following month.