Madrid look to extend FCK's Spanish struggles

Real Madrid CF begin their home campaign in the UEFA Champions League with the visit of FC København, who have never defeated Spanish opponents in eight attempts.

• While the Danish champions began Group B in promising fashion by holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw, Madrid – seeking a tenth European Champion Clubs' Cup – started with a 6-1 win at Galatasaray AŞ in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick.

Previous meetings
• The teams have never met and Madrid have not faced Danish opposition since 1994/95.

• The UEFA Cup third round tie proved something of a surprise with the Spanish giants going down 2-0 at home to Odense BK after winning the away leg 3-2. The fact that Madrid had won all four previous home games against Danish visitors, scoring 23 goals with only one against, underlines the size of Odense's achievement.

• In eight games against Spanish sides København have drawn four and lost four; on their travels their results are D2 L2.

• Their last assignment came in their most recent UEFA Champions League campaign, in 2010/11. Paired with FC Barcelona in the group stage, they lost 2-0 away and drew 1-1 at home.

Match background
• Madrid were Group D runners-up last season behind Borussia Dortmund, who ended their campaign when the teams met again in the semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate victory thanks mainly to a 4-1 first-leg win in Germany. It was the third successive season Madrid had been knocked out in the last four.

• They began at home with a 3-2 home win against Manchester City FC and also beat AFC Ajax 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu with a 2-2 draw against Dortmund in between.

• In the round of 16 the Merengues were held 1-1 at home by Manchester United FC, winning 2-1 away. A 3-0 home win over Galatasaray AŞ in the quarter-final set them up for a 24th semi-final and a 3-2 defeat in Istanbul ensured they got there.

• Three years ago Ståle Solbakken's København finished second in their group behind Barcelona and in their other away games won 2-0 at Panathinaikos FC and lost 1-0 at FC Rubin Kazan. In the round of 16 they lost 2-0 at home to a Chelsea FC team managed by current Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, drawing 0-0 in London. 

• On their travels in last season's UEFA Europa League group stage the Danish champions lost 1-0 away at FC Steaua Bucureşti, drew 0-0 at VfB Stuttgart and won 2-1 at Molde FK. 

Team ties
• During his first spell as København coach, Solbakken oversaw four European games against Spanish opposition. His record against Valencia CF, FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid reads W0 D2 L2.

• Xabi Alonso scored twice in Spain's 3-0 friendly victory against Denmark at Parken on 20 August 2008. Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Lars Jacobsen all featured.

• Ronaldo scored in both Portugal's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers against Denmark. He earned them a 3-1 win in Porto on 8 October 2010 – a game which also featured Pepe, Fábio Coentrão and Jacobsen – before a 2-1 loss at Parken 12 months later.

• Kris Stadsgaard played for Málaga CF between 2010 and 2012, making 25 appearances and scoring his only goal in a 4-1 home defeat by Madrid on 16 October 2010.