Standard and Hannover on the brink

R. Standard de Liège and Hannover 96 meet in UEFA Europa League Group B, with victory for either side enough to secure a round of 32 berth; both will progress, if FC København lose at FC Vorskla Poltava.

Previous meetings
• The sides cancelled each other out on matchday one, drawing 0-0 despite the best efforts of Hannover playmaker Sergio Pinto and Standard's own No7 Franck Berrier. It was Hannover's first game against a Belgian outfit.

• Standard have played German sides in 26 previous UEFA competition ties, with the record W6 D7 L13 (W3 D3 L5 at home). They have not won in ten games against German sides (five draws and five defeats) since a 1-0 home win against Karlsruher SC in the first leg of one of the three 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup finals.

Match background
• Standard are on a six-game unbeaten run in European competition (four wins and two draws) since a 1-0 defeat against FC Zürich (following a 1-1 first leg draw) saw them move from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round into the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

• Standard were the last side in this year's group stage to concede a goal, going behind early on in their 3-1 matchday four victory at FC Vorskla Poltava - having kept clean sheets in each of their opening three games.

• Standard have not conceded in any of their last three continental home games since the aforementioned tie against Zürich.

• Hannover are the only side in the competition never to have lost a UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League game. This will be their seventh game.

• Hannover are unbeaten in three European away games this season; a 1-1 draw in the play-offs, followed by 2-1 victories in both of their previous Group B games on the road.

Team facts
• Standard need five more goals to reach 300 in UEFA club competition; this will be their 193rd UEFA game having made their debut in the preliminary round of the 1958/59 European Champion Clubs' Cup with a 5-1 victory against Heart of Midlothian FC.

• Standard's Senegalese striker Leye Mbaye celebrates his 29th birthday the day after this game.

• Hannover boss Mirko Slomka led the club he had previously served as a player and assistant coach into Europe with a fourth-placed Bundesliga finish in his first season in charge.

• Slomka is competing in the group stage of this competition for the first time, but enjoyed success in the 2005/06 edition. He led FC Schalke 04 from the round of 32 to the semi-finals after replacing Ralf Rangnick as coach following the group phase.

• Standard boss José Riga is competing in Europe for the first time. Born in Liege, he previously served as the club's joint-coach, alongside his predecessor Dominique D'Onofrio, from 2003 to 2005. Since then, he has been in sole command of RAEC Mons and RCS Visé.