Helsingborg's work cut out at Hannover

Undefeated in Europe this term and in free-scoring form, Hannover 96 will fancy their chances against a Helsingborgs IF side without a win in five continental fixtures.

• Mame Diouf's early goal looked to have earned Hannover victory at Helsingborg on 25 October. Though the hosts equalised through Álvaro in the first minute of second-half added time, Didier Ya Konan struck even later to secure the win for the Bundesliga side.

• That kept Hannover top of Group L and means they can reach the round of 32 with two games to spare if they defeat their Swedish visitors and FC Twente do not beat Levante UD.

Previous meetings
• The sides met for the first time on matchday three, in what was also Hannover's maiden game against a Swedish side.

• Helsingborg's only previous experience of German opposition came in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage when they lost 3-1 at home and drew 0-0 away against FC Bayern München.

• Bundesliga clubs have had the better of the 47 previous ties between sides from the two nations: W26 D10 L11 (W15 D6 L2 at home – W11 D4 L9 in Sweden).

Match background
• Helsingborg are without a win in five European games, drawing one and losing four.

• Helsingborg have lost five and won only one of their last seven European away games – 3-0 at WKS Śląsk Wrocław in this season's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

• Thwarted in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Club Atlético de Madrid last term, Hannover are unbeaten in Europe this season, and have won six of their seven games since entering in the third qualifying round – scoring at least twice in each of them, and averaging three goals a match.

Team facts
• Hannover are three shy of 50 goals in UEFA club competition – this will be their 24th fixture.

• Helsingborg defender Joseph Baffo and Hannover reserve goalkeeper Samuel Radinger turn 20 on the eve of the game.

• Helsingborg defender Christoffer Andersson played for Hannover in 2006/07, but made just seven Bundesliga appearances before returning to Helsingborg.

• Fellow defender Erik Edman also played in Germany for Karlsruher SC, while on loan from Torino FC, making eight Bundesliga appearances in 2000.

• Back for a second spell as Helsingborg coach, Åge Hareide represented Molde FK, Manchester City FC and Norwich City FC as a defender, and was capped 50 times by Norway. As a coach, he won domestic titles in Sweden (Helsingborg 1999), Denmark (Brøndby IF 2001/02) and Norway (Rosenborg BK 2003) before leading Norway (2003–08), and resumed command at Helsingborg in June, following stints with Örgryte IS and Viking FK.

• Hannover coach Mirko Slomka played for the club and coached their youth teams before taking charge of the first team in January 2010. He previously enjoyed success in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, leading FC Schalke 04 from the round of 32 to the semi-finals after replacing Ralf Rangnick as coach following the group stage.