Sweden beckons again for AEK

AEK Athens FC will look to enjoy better fortune in their opening UEFA Cup Group C game at IF Elfsborg than they did in their only previous trip to Sweden back in 1999.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Swedish and Greek sides have never met before in the UEFA Cup. However, tonight will see two Greece v Sweden ties – Elfsborg's game against AEK and Helsingborgs IF's tie against Panionios GSS.

• Elfsborg have never met Greek opposition in UEFA club competition.

• AEK's only previous experience of Swedish opponents came in the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round where they met AIK Solna. They drew 0-0 at home then lost 1-0 in Stockholm to bow out of the competition.

• In total, five games have been played between clubs from the two countries on Swedish soil. Of those ties, the home side has won three with one game drawn and the other won by the Greek visitors.

• Elfsborg last home win in Europe was in this season's UEFA Champions League first qualifying round when they beat Linfield FC. Their last home win in this competition was their victory over Glentoran FC 2-1 in the second qualifying round of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.

• AEK have lost their last six European away games since earning a 2-1 victory at Heart of Midlothian FC in the third qualifying round of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League. They have not won in their last seven UEFA Cup away games since winning 4-1 at Maccabi Haifa FC in the third round of the 2002/03 UEFA Cup.

• Elfsborg defender Fredrik Björck celebrates his 28th birthday on 22 October, three days before the game against AEK.

• AEK are one of five Greek clubs in the group stage along with Aris Thessaloniki FC, Larissa FC, Panathinaikos FC and Panionios GSS.

• Villarreal CF are at home against ACF Fiorentina in the day's other Group C game.