Legia seek fresh start against Apollon

No Cypriot club has ever avoided defeat in a game on Polish soil, and Legia Warszawa will look to maintain that proud record as they welcome Apollon Limassol FC in UEFA Europa League Group J.

Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time and this is Apollon's first encounter with Polish opposition.

• Legia's only experience of Cypriot opposition came in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup first round when they lost 1-0 away to Anorthosis Famagusta FC before winning the return fixture in Warsaw 2-0.

• Including those two Legia games, only eight UEFA fixtures have paired Polish and Cypriot sides, with the Polish clubs having the better of them – W4 D2 L2 (W4 D0 L0 in Poland – W0 D2 L2). Apollon are thus aiming to become the first Cypriot selection to avoid defeat on Polish soil.

Match background
• Legia enjoyed their maiden UEFA Europa League group stage campaign in 2011/12, finishing second in their pool before losing to Sporting Clube de Portugal in the round of 32.

• Legia lost 1-0 at SS Lazio on matchday one but remain unbeaten in seven European home games (W3 D4).

• Apollon are making their debut in a major UEFA group stage after eliminating OGC Nice in the play-offs.

• Apollon succumbed 2-1 at home to Trabzonspor AŞ on matchday one and they are on a seven-game losing streak away from home in European competition, having failed to score in their last four trips abroad.

Team facts
• Legia and Slovenia's NK Maribor have made it to the group stage after winning doubles last season; Legia are one of nine domestic champions and 11 cup winners – including Apollon – in this term's starting lineup.

• Legia midfielder Hélio Pinto spent the 2005/06 season on loan at Apollon prior to joining APOEL FC, where his team-mates included Christos Karipidis.

• Portuguese-born Legia defender Dossa Júnior is a Cypriot international and turned out for Dighenis Morphou FC, AEP Paphos FC and Apollon's local rivals AEL Limassol FC. He played alongside Apollon's Georgios Vasilou at AEP and Apollon goalkeeper Isli Hidi was among his AEL colleagues.

Coach information
• Legia coach Jan Urban will turn 52 on the day of the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League final. Having scored at an impressive rate for Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Górnik Zabrze, the striker had a long spell in Spain, notably with CA Osasuna from 1989 to 1994. Capped 57 times, he started coaching with Osasuna's B team and is now in his second stint in charge at Legia, winning a domestic double in his first season back in 2012/13.

• Appointed in March 2013, Christakis Christoforou guided Apollon to Cypriot Cup glory in 2012/13 and is the first coach to lead the men's and women's branches of the same club in UEFA competition. A successful player with AEL and APOEL, he took charge of Apollon's women following a spell as Cyprus Under-17 coach, winning five successive doubles and reaching the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32 three times.