Celta set for Spartak trip

Having won their only previous tie against Russian opposition, RC Celta de Vigo will go into their UEFA Cup Round of 32 game against FC Spartak Moskva with confidence.

• Spartak qualified for the Round of 32 as the third-placed side in UEFA Champions League Group B. Celta finished second in UEFA Cup Group H.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Spartak have been drawn against Spanish opposition seven times in European competition (winning three and losing four) and also faced Primera División sides in the UEFA Champions League group stage on four previous occasions.

• In total, their record of individual games against Spanish opposition reads won seven, drawn five and lost ten.

• Celta have been drawn against Russian opposition just once, beating FC Zenit St. Petersburg 4-3 in a 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup final. They drew 2-2 in Russia and then won 2-1 at home to earn a UEFA Cup place.

• Romanian international team-mates could be on opposite sides in the match, with Gabriel Tamas representing Celta and Adrian Iencsi playing for Spartak. Defender Tamas previously played for Spartak, making 17 league appearances for the club in the 2004 and 2006 seasons.

• Russian players have proved to be a success at Celta in the past. Former Spartak stars Valeri Karpin and Aleksandr Mostovoi were key players at Celta during the 1990s. Karpin spent five seasons at the club while Mostovoi was there for eight seasons, earning the nickname 'Tzar' among local fans.

• Spartak coach Vladimir Fedotov has limited experience of Spanish opposition having twice played against Spain for the Soviet Union in 1972 UEFA European Championship qualifiers. He was a late substitute as his side won 2-1 at home and played for 83 minutes in the goalless draw in Spain.

• The second leg of the tie will be played on 22 February. The aggregate winners will face Werder Bremen or AFC Ajax in the Round of 16, playing the home leg on 8 March and the away second leg a week later.