Fenerbahçe braced for final hurdle

Fenerbahçe SK have enjoyed a successful campaign so far in the UEFA Champions League and approach the final game in Group G knowing that one more win will assure them of a place in the knockout rounds for the first time. For PFC CSKA Moskva the end of the road is in sight – with just a single point so far they know their destiny is to finish bottom of the section.

• If the Turkish side fail to win they are in danger of being overtaken in the race for second by PSV Eindhoven, who lie one point behind in third place and are at home to section winners FC Internazionale Milano. However, PSV would need to win as a draw in Eindhoven coupled with a defeat for Fenerbahçe would see Zico's team go through because of a superior head-to-head record.

• Fenerbahçe would have been in an even stronger position had they not succumbed to their first defeat two weeks ago. Away to Inter, they were on level terms at half-time but second-half strikes by Julio Cruz, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Luis Antonio Jiménez gave the Italian side a fourth successive victory and, with 12 points, assured them of top spot.

• The Turkish champions, who are taking part in their fifth UEFA Champions League campaign, had surprised Inter on Matchday 1 with a 1-0 win and then followed that by drawing 2-2 in Moscow. They had taken an early lead there through captain Alex but soon into the second half Miloš Krasić levelled before Vágner Love converted a penalty he himself had earned. The contest seemed to be heading towards a home win when, with five minutes remaining, Deivid's long-range drive crept under CSKA goalkeeper Veniamin Mandrykin to make it 2-2.

• That game was the first occasion Fenerbahçe have tackled opponents from Russia in club competition while CSKA had faced just one team from Turkey before. In the 1971/72 European Champion Clubs' Cup first round, CSKA drew 1-1 away to Galatasaray AS and followed that up with a 3-0 home win.

• Valeri Gazzaev's side, appearing in the UEFA Champions League for the second successive season and the fourth time in all, have always found it tough to prise out victories at this level whether at home or on their travels. Their last away success (not including qualifying) came three years ago with a 3-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain FC. Since then they have played out two 0-0 draws on the road followed by three successive away defeats.

• Fenerbahçe striker Mateja Kežman played against CSKA for Chelsea FC in both meetings in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage. He failed to score, playing 63 minutes in the first leg at Stamford Bridge before getting 21 minutes as a substitute in Russia. He was booked in both games.

• Both teams boast a number of Brazilians in their squad – Ramón, Daniel Carvalho, Dudu, Vágner Love, Eduardo and Jô for CSKA, while Fenerbahçe have Roberto Carlos, Edu, Alex, Gökçek Vederson (formerly Wéderson) and Deivid along with the naturalised Turkish international Mehmet Aurélio.