Mladá Boleslav await Villarreal

With a tremendous away record in European competition, Villarreal CF will feel confident as they travel to the Czech Republic to meet FK Mladá Boleslav in Group C.

• Mladá Boleslav are playing in their first group stage game of the season while Villarreal drew their opener 1-1 at home to ACF Fiorentina, Joan Capdevila scoring an 88th-minute equaliser for the Yellow Submarine.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Mladá Boleslav have never met Spanish opponents before.

• Villarreal met Czech opponents in the form of 1. FC Brno in the 2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup semi-finals, drawing 1-1 away and winning 2-1 at home.

• Of the last five UEFA Cup games between Czech and Spanish sides on Czech soil, the away side have won three with the other two drawn.

• Mladá Boleslav's squad is made up exclusively of players from the Czech Republic.

• Mladá Boleslav coach Zdeněk Ščasný's only previous experience of Spanish opposition was an unhappy one. His AC Sparta Praha side met Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup first round, losing 4-2 at home and 1-0 in San Sebastian.

• Mladá Boleslav have failed to win in their last three European home games, including both of their home fixtures in the 2006/07 group stage.

• Villarreal's record in European away games is impressive. Of their 33 away ties to date, they have won nine and lost seven while earning draws in 17 games.

• Fiorentina are at home against IF Elfsborg in the day's other Group C game.