Romanian record buoys Benfica

SL Benfica go into their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie with FC Dinamo 1948 Bucuresti looking to defend a 100 per cent record against Romanian sides in knockout ties.

• The clubs have been drawn together once before, meeting in a two-legged UEFA Cup first-round tie in 1999/00. Dinamo won 1-0 in Lisbon, but failed to progress after losing 2-0 in the return fixture, which was played at the Cotroceni Stadium rather than their usual home.

• Benfica qualified for the Round of 32 as the third-placed side in UEFA Champions League Group F. Dinamo finished second in UEFA Cup Group B.

• Including their previous tie against Dinamo, Benfica have been drawn against Romanian opposition on three previous occasions as well as meeting FC Steaua Bucuresti in the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League group stage. Of their eight games against Romanian sides, they have won three, drawn four and lost one.

• Including their previous tie against Benfica, Dinamo have been drawn against Portuguese opponents in three previous ties - winning one and losing two. In total, their record in six games against Portuguese teams reads won two, drawn one and lost three.

• Dinamo coach Mircea Rednic played against Portuguese opposition in three competitive ties during his career. The Romanian international defender was on the losing side as Portugal triumphed 1-0 in the 1984 UEFA European Championship. His Dinamo side lost 4-0 on aggregate against FC Porto in the 1990/91 European Champion Clubs' Cup and his R. Standard de Liège team bowed out 3-1 on aggregate to Vitória SC in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup.

• The match will see two Angolan international team-mates come face to face as Benfica forward Mantorras meets up with Dinamo midfielder Zé Kalanga.

• The second leg will be played on 22 February. The aggregate winners will face AEK Athens FC or Paris Saint-Germain FC in the Round of 16, playing away on 8 March and the home leg a week later.