English hoodoo spurs Beşiktaş on

Istanbul giants Beşiktaş JK are looking for a first competitive win against English opposition on home soil as Tottenham Hotspur FC visit the Inönü Stadium as UEFA Cup Group B gets under way.

• The two teams have never met before in European competition.

• Veterans of 112 games in European club competition (winning 34, drawing 26 and losing 52), Beşiktaş have played seven games against English sides since they met Aston Villa FC in a two-legged European Champion Clubs' Cup first-round tie in 1982/83.

• Of those seven meetings, Beşiktaş have won one, drawn three and lost three.

• Their worst result against an English side came in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage as they lost 6-0 at Leeds United AFC. Current Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson was an unused substitute for Leeds in that game.

• Their only win against a Premiership side came in 2003/04 as they earned a surprise 2-0 UEFA Champions League win against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge with Sergen Yalçin scoring twice.

• They then played Bolton Wanderers FC in the UEFA Cup group stage, drawing 1-1 in Istanbul with Jared Borgetti cancelling out an early goal from Beşiktaş's Brazilian striker Ailton.

• Spurs will be on virgin territory as they head to Turkey - while they have played 105 games in European competition (winning 62, drawing 19 and losing 24) they are yet to encounter Turkish opposition.

• Beşiktaş have several players who have spent time in England. Defender Baki Mercimek spent two seasons at Sunderland AFC without making a league appearance, while Brazilian midfielder Ricardinho spent time on loan with 2005/06 UEFA Cup finalists Middlesbrough FC in three seasons ago without playing a competitive game.

• Brazilian midfielder Kléberson joined Beşiktaş in 2005 after two seasons in the Premiership for Manchester United FC, having scored twice in 20 Premiership games.

• Former England forward Les Ferdinand played for both clubs, spending a spell on loan from Queens Park Rangers FC at Beşiktaş under English coach Gordon Milne in 1988/89. He scored 16 goals in 34 games, helped the Istanbul side win the Turkish Cup and is remembered fondly by Beşiktaş fans to this day.

• Club Brugge KV are at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the day's other Group B tie.