Partizan plan another setback for Shakhtar

Defeats in each of their first four Group H matches brought an early end to FK Partizan's European season, although the Serbian side have reason to hope for better fortune when they welcome FC Shakhtar Donetsk for their final home game.

• Partizan's disappointing group stage campaign began with a 1-0 defeat in Donetsk on 15 September, Shakhtar – who joined Arsenal FC on nine points at the top of the table with victory against the Gunners last time out – earning the win through Darijo Srna's expert free-kick in the 71st minute.

• The Serbian champions did record a home win against their Ukrainian counterparts last season, however, and can also draw on their unbeaten home record in qualifying for this stage.

Previous meetings
• The teams faced each other last season in the UEFA Europa League group stage. In their home fixture, Partizan obtained a measure of revenge for a 4-1 defeat in Donetsk with a 1-0 win secured by Lamine Diarra's early strike.

• The teams for that game in Belgrade on 16 December 2009 were:
Partizan: Božović, Fejsa, Tomić, Petrović (Branislav Jovanović 69), Almami Moreira (Ilić 60), Lomić, Marko Jovanović, Krstajić, Ljajić, Knežević, Diarra (Bogunović 79).
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Hübschman, Duljaj (Gai 77), Fernandinho, Jadson (Vitsenets 77), Kobin, Luiz Adriano (Gladkiy 81), Willian, Rat, Ishchenko, Rakitskiy.

• In the first game, a Marko Lomić own goal set Donetsk on their way to a convincing victory, with Luiz Adriano, Jadson and Yaroslav Rakitskiy also on the scoresheet. Adem Ljajić replied for Partizan.

• While Partizan finished bottom of Group J, Donetsk progressed to the round of 32, where they lost to eventual finalists Fulham FC.

Match background
• Partizan are looking to win their first UEFA Champions League group fixture at home: in their only previous campaign, 2003/04, they drew all three group games at the FK Partizan Stadium and finished bottom of their section. Indeed this is their 11th attempt to win in the group stage, home and away.

• After the opening-day defeat at Shakhtar, Partizan looked capable of taking something from their home game with Arsenal but ultimately went down 3-1. Their losing run continued with a 2-0 defeat at SC Braga, who were then 1-0 winners in Belgrade.

• Shakhtar equalled their best start to a UEFA Champions League campaign when they made it two wins out of two with a 3-0 victory at Braga on Matchday 2, Luiz Adriano scoring twice.

• After clean sheets in their opening two games it was something of a surprise when Mircea Lucescu's team then conceded five goals away to Arsenal – responding only with Eduardo's late effort on his return to his former club.

• The Croatian international was the decisive figure on Matchday 4, however, securing a 2-1 win on the stroke of half-time after Shakhtar had come from a goal down.

Team ties
• Mladen Krstajić was part of the FC Schalke 04 team defeated 2-1 on aggregate by Shakhtar in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup round of 32. He played in both the 1-1 draw in Ukraine and the 1-0 reverse at home.

• As coach of FC Dinamo Bucureşti, Shakhtar trainer Lucescu got the better of Partizan in the 1989/90 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final, the Romanian team winning 2-1 at home and 2-0 away.