Partizan primed for Blucerchiati visit

Walter Mazzarri's UC Sampdoria return to Belgrade after an absence of over 16 years in UEFA Cup Group C to take on an FK Partizan side marshalled by much-travelled former midfielder Slaviša Jokanović.

• This is Partizan and Sampdoria's first meeting in UEFA club competition.

• Sampdoria have been to Belgrade before, playing Partizan's local rivals FK Crvena Zvezda in their only fixtures against Serbian opposition in the group stage of the 1991/92 European Champion Clubs' Cup – the final edition before the advent of the UEFA Champions League.

• Having already beaten Crvena Zvezda 2-0 in Genoa, Sampdoria triumphed 3-1 away as they finished top of their section to earn a final tie against Barcelona. Siniša Mihajlović – who would go on to play for Sampdoria between 1994 and 1998 – had put the home side ahead but efforts from Srečko Katanec and Roberto Mancini, either side of a Goran Vasiljević own goal, won the day for the visitors.

• Partizan have played 12 games against Italian sides in UEFA club competition, but to date have won only one, drawing four and losing the remaining seven. That sole win was a 4-2 home triumph against AS Roma in the second round of the 1988/89 UEFA Cup, which would be cancelled out by a 2-0 away defeat in the return fixture.

• The current side can take some comfort from the fact that they have drawn both of their previous two UEFA Cup group stage games against Serie A sides – one at home and one away.

• Their home record in six games against Italian sides reads won one, drawn two and lost three.

• Partizan coach Slaviša Jokanović played in one of those home draws, a 1-1 result against FC Internazionale Milano in the 1990/91 UEFA Cup.

• The 64-times capped international also faced Italian opposition in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup as his CD Tenerife side lost 1-0 at S.S. Lazio in the second round, but won 5-3 at home, with midfielder Jokanović among the scorers.

• Serbian champions Partizan beat their Azerbaijani counterparts FC İnter Bakı in the second qualifying round to set up a tie with Fenerbahçe SK in this season's UEFA Champions League, but lost 4-3 on aggregate. They then beat Romania's FC Timişoara 3-1 over two legs to reach the UEFA Cup group stage.

• Sampdoria finished sixth in Serie A to earn a place in the UEFA Cup first round. They beat Lithuania's FBK Kaunas 7-1 over two legs to qualify for the group stage.

• Sampdoria boast Serbian talent in the form of midfielder Nenad Krstičić. The 18-year-old played alongside Partizan defender Ivan Stevanović at OFK Beograd prior to his move to Genoa this season.

• Sevilla FC take on VfB Stuttgart in Matchday 1's other Group C game. R. Standard de Liège are the only side in the section not in action on 23 October.