Fiorentina want to keep Steaua scoreless

A 2-2 draw away to Olympique Lyonnais was an encouraging way for ACF Fiorentina to launch their return to the UEFA Champions League after a nine-year absence but there was some disappointment among Cesare Prandelli's squad because until the last 17 minutes they held a 2-0 lead. At least they will approach Matchday 2 in better heart than opponents FC Steaua Bucureşti, who began Group F with a home defeat by FC Bayern München.

• Headed goals by Alberto Gilardino at either end of the first half seemed to have set up Fiorentina for a memorable Matchday 1 victory at the start of only their second appearance in the competition but they could not withstand the force of the home team's comeback, Karim Benzema securing a point for Lyon four minutes from time.

• In three home games against opponents from Romania, Fiorentina have not conceded a goal. Their first game brought them up against FC Universitatea Craiova in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup first round when they could do no better than draw 0-0 at home. They beat the same opponents 1-0 at the same stage of the 1982/83 UEFA Cup and that was also the score when they played host to CF Gloria 1922 Bistrita in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round. In a total of six games against Romanian opponents, home and away, Fiorentina have managed two wins, two draws and two defeats.

• In their only previous UEFA Champions League participation, the Viola were unbeaten at home in the first group stage, drawing with FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC and defeating AIK Solna. In the second group stage they were again strong on home soil, beating Manchester United FC and Valencia CF and drawing with FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

• In nine contests against opponents from Italy, Steaua have still to taste victory and moreover have not managed to score a single goal in those games. The defeat that resonates most with their older supporters is the 4-0 reverse that AC Milan inflicted in the 1989 European Champion Clubs' Cup final staged at the Camp Nou. There was also a 3-0 loss against Juventus in the 1995/96 group stage but all the other games have either ended 0-0 or been decided by a single goal in favour of the Italian sides. Steaua's last visit to that country, to face UC Sampdoria in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage, ended 0-0, the only occasion in five trips to Italy they have escaped defeat.

• A first-half strike by Bayern's Daniel Van Buyten ensured Steaua began their 2008/09 campaign on a losing note. Nevertheless Marius Lăcătuş' side created several opportunities and will be looking to take advantage this time round if they can fashion chances in Florence. The 1986 European champions began last season with back-to-back defeats and will be anxious to avoid the same fate this time round.

• This is the third season in a row that the Bucharest club have taken their place on Europe's grandest club stage and their sixth campaign in all. However, they traditionally struggle for favourable results and in 31 group matches so far Steaua have only amassed four wins. Two have come on their travels – two years ago they beat FC Dynamo Kyiv 4-1 away but failed to gain another victory and finished third in the group. Remarkably it was the same score when Steaua notched their only other away success, at the expense of HNK Hajduk Split in the 1994/95 group stage.

• Last season all three away games ended in defeats by the same 2-1 scoreline as the Bucharest club finished fourth in their group.

• Steaua coach Lăcătuş spent the 1990/91 season with Fiorentina, scoring three goals in 21 appearances before moving on to Real Oviedo. After the group-stage draw, he said: "I hope to achieve more in Florence as Steaua's coach than I managed as player."

• Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu counts FC Dinamo Bucureşti among his former clubs and will be facing many of his Romanian international team-mates. At UEFA EURO 2008™, a Romania outfit featuring Mirel Rădoi, Dorin Goian and Bănel Nicoliţă drew 1-1 with Italy in Zurich.

• The section's other Matchday 2 fixtures pits Bayern against Lyon.