København and HJK hoping for strong start

The form book would seem to favour FC København as HJK Helsinki make a return to UEFA group stage football in UEFA Europa League Group B.

Form guide
• FCK have won just twice in their last seven European home games, with the other five fixtures ending D2 L3.

• HJK are without a win in six European away matches (D2 L4) since a 2-1 win at KR Reykjavík in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

• The last seven games between Danish and Finnish sides in UEFA club competition have been won by the Danish team. Only once in 14 European fixtures side has a Finnish club beaten a Danish side in Denmark, FC Jazz overcoming FCK 1-0 in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup preliminary round. That remains FCK's sole defeat in six meetings with Finnish clubs – and they won the return fixture in Pori 4-0.

Trivia and links
• HJK are making only their second appearance in a major UEFA competition group stage, having reached the same phase of the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League.

• HJK's Danish goalkeeper Michael Tørnes competed for a first-team place with his FCK counterpart Stephan Andersen when the two played together at Brøndby IF (2007-11).

The coaches
• FCK's Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken earned 58 caps during a successful playing career, which ended abruptly after he suffered a heart attack. Having won five Danish titles in his first spell as the club's coach, Solbakken returned to FCK in 2013.

• HJK coach Mika Lehkosuo was a midfielder for the club when they played in the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League, captaining the side after a brief spell in Italy with AC Perugia. Capped 17 times, he coached FC Honka Espoo before taking over at HJK in April 2014.

• Solbakken and Lehkosuo met as players in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying; Lehkosuo's Finland earned a 1-1 draw in Oslo, but Solbakken struck the first goal as Norway won the return fixture in Helsinki 4-0.