Metalist on their mettle as Olympiacos visit

FC Metalist Kharkiv could find themselves celebrating earning a place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday evening as they take on Olympiacos CFP, with both sides still on a high after tremendous Group B results on Matchday 3.

• The Ukrainian team made a stunning coup in Istanbul as Edmar's goal nine minutes from time earned them a 1-0 victory against Galatasaray AŞ. It was their first win away from home in European club competition.

• Having drawn 0-0 at home against Hertha BSC Berlin in their opening Group B game, Metalist know that a win against Olympiacos would guarantee them a place in the top three in the section.

• This is already Metalist's longest UEFA competition campaign, with their previous best seeing them become one of the 16 teams to reach the second round of the 1988/89 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

• Olympiacos earned a stunning result of their own on Matchday 3, routing SL Benfica 5-1 in Piraeus to dispel the gloom created by a 1-0 away defeat against Galatasaray in their opening fixture.

• A win would leave them mathematically certain of a place in the last 32 provided Galatasaray win at Hertha. In any case, only one side have failed to qualify from the group stage after gaining six points, with Rangers FC missing out in 2004/05.

• This is Metalist and Olympiacos's first meeting in European competition.

• Metalist have never come up against Greek opponents before, but Olympiacos have played six games against sides from Ukraine, with their record reading W1 D3 L2. Their previous trips to Ukraine have ended in a defeat, a victory and – most recently – a draw.

• Metalist coach Myron Markevich has never faced a Greek side, while Olympiacos's Spanish boss Ernesto Valverde has never been to Ukraine in a professional capacity, as a player or a coach.

• Metalist's Serbian midfielder Milan Obradović may have some useful insights to share with his trainer, having spent the 2005/06 season in Greece with Akratitos FC, when his side were relegated from the Greek Super League.

• Metalist have lost only once in their five home games in UEFA club competition to date. Of those other four matches, two ended in 0-0 draws with the others being 4-0 and 4-1 home wins.

• Metalist's Marko Dević is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the campaign against Galatasaray while his team-mate Seweryn Gancarczyk and Olympiacos' Paraskevas Antzas are both within a booking of a one-match ban.

• Hertha play Galatasaray in Wednesday's other Group B game. Benfica are the only side in the section not in action on Matchday 4.

• The draw for the UEFA Cup Round of 32 and Round of 16 will be held at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon on Friday 19 December at 13.00CET. Group winners will be paired with third-placed sides from other UEFA Cup sections, while second-placed finishers will be drawn against one of the eight clubs who finished third in the UEFA Champions League groups. The UEFA Cup group winners and runners-up will play the second leg at home. Teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.