Sheriff and AZ staring down the barrel

Matchday 5 could mark the end of FC Sheriff and AZ Alkmaar's UEFA Europa League campaigns with the wrong result in the night's other Group E game potentially making both sides' efforts in vain.

• No scenario will see either side reach the last 32 and any loser in Moldova will be eliminated. But both teams will be knocked out regardless of the final score if FC Dynamo Kyiv prevail at FC BATE Borisov.

Previous meetings
• Kew Jaliens' header seven minutes from time proved to be the difference on Matchday 1, with AZ prevailing 2-1 in the Netherlands. It was AZ's first encounter with Moldovan opposition.

Match background
• The 2-0 Matchday 2 win against Dynamo was Sheriff's only victory in their last four European home games.

• In the 2009/10 group stage, Sheriff recorded a win, a draw and a defeat in their three group stage home games; having won one and drawn one in Moldova so far, history will repeat itself if they are held by AZ.

• AZ embarked on a three-game European losing streak after beating Sheriff on Matchday 1. They have not won away in nine European matches since defeating FC Paços de Ferreira 1-0 in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup first round.

Team facts
• Sheriff's next goal will be their 50th in UEFA club competition; this is their 59th European game.

• AZ are five goals short of 150 scored in UEFA club competition. However, they are also two shy of conceding their 100th. This will be their 81st European game.

• Sheriff coach Andrei Sosnitski took over at the helm following the departure of his former boss and fellow Belarusian Leonid Kuchuk, midway through the 2009/10 season, but it was soon business as usual with the club winning another domestic double.

• Initially a trainee at FC Dinamo Minsk, Sosnitski later played for FC Alania Vladikavkaz, FC Uralmash Ekaterinburg, FC Chernomorets Novorossiysk and FC Dinamo Brest, where he spent the majority of this playing career. On hanging up his boots, he started his life as a coach at FC Slavia Mozyr before returning to Dinamo Brest.

• Sosnitski is not unaware of coaching innovations from the Netherlands. He once said: "I like the Dutch 'Total Football' style. I keep trying to improve along with my players by analysing everything new in the world of football."

• AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek was a defender who spent his whole career at sc Heerenveen, barring a season on loan with Heracles Almelo. After retiring, he became Heerenveen assistant coach before striking out alone with Heracles from 2001 to 2004, and then replacing Foppe de Haan at his other old club. In 2008 he was lured to Feyenoord, but fared poorly. However, AZ took him on after a fine 2009/10 season back at Heracles.