Elfsborg endurance test continues

IF Elfsborg may have lost their Swedish title but their mammoth European season continues with a Group C game at ACF Fiorentina.

• Champions in 2006, Elfsborg relinquished their domestic crown to IFK Göteborg on 28 October. They finished fourth in the Allsvenskan, and may have to win the UEFA Cup to earn a place in Europe for the 2008/09 season.

• Fiorentina drew their opener 1-1 at Villarreal CF, while Elfsborg earned the same result at home against AEK Athens FC.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Veterans of UEFA club competition, Fiorentina are unbeaten in six games against Swedish sides in Europe, winning four and drawing two. At home, they have won two of those games, drawing the other.

• Comparative novices in European terms, Elfsborg have never met Italian opponents before.

• Elfsborg's Stefan Ishizaki has some experience of Italian football having joined Genoa CFC on loan from AIK Solna in the 2003/04 season, playing four games - three as a substitute.

• Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has never been involved in a competitive game against Swedish opposition, and Elfsborg boss Magnus Haglund has also never faced an Italian side.

• Fiorentina have played six UEFA competition home games since the turn of the millennium, winning three, drawing two and losing one.

• This will be Elfsborg's tenth game in European competition this season. They battled their way through from the first to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League before bowing out to Valencia CF and have already played three UEFA Cup games.

• Elfsborg have proved resilient on their travels this season, winning two of their away games, drawing two more and losing just one.

• FK Mladá Boleslav are at home against Villarreal in the day's other Group C game.