Bajević ready for Crvena Zvezda reunion
Aris Thessaloniki FC coach Dušan Bajević can expect to be the centre of attention as his side meet FK Crvena Zvezda, a team he led for much of last season.
• Aris are playing in their first Group F game while Crvena Zvezda lost their opener 3-2 at home to FC Bayern München - Toni Kroos, 17, scoring the winner four minutes into added time for the German club.
• The two sides have never met in European competition.
• The next goal Crvena Zvezda let in will be the 300th they have conceded in UEFA club competition.
• Aris have never previously come up against Serbian opposition.
• Crvena Zvezda have played ten games against Greek opponents in the past, winning six and losing four. Their first and only win in Greece to date was a 2-0 success at Panathinaikos FC in the 1991/92 European Champion Clubs' Cup third round, played as a group stage. Darko Pančev scored both goals for the then holders, who had lost all four of their previous matches in Greece.
• Aris coach Bajević was in charge of Crvena Zvezda last season, but left in dramatic fashion before they claimed a league and cup double in Serbia.
• Hired after years of success in Greek football, the former Yugoslavia international had a fine autumn in Belgrade, but poor form at the start of the spring saw some fans turn against him.
• He left the club in March, walking out 70 minutes into a 3-0 defeat by FK Vojvodina with his side 2-0 down. Boško Djurovski replaced him and led the club to the double.
• Crvena Zvezda defender Miloš Bajalica celebrates his 26th birthday two days after the match, on 10 November.
• Crvena Zvezda reserve goalkeeper Saša Radivojević played in Greece for Apollon Kalamaria FC in the 2005/06 season but made just three league appearances.
• Aris have an exceptional home record in Europe, and remain unbeaten in 16 UEFA club competition home ties - although they did lose two home games in the non-UEFA affiliated Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup.
• A 1-0 win at Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopolski in the first round of the UEFA Cup (20 September) ended a run of four straight European away defeats for Crvena Zvezda.
• Aris are one of five Greek clubs in the group stage along with AEK Athens FC, Larissa FC, Panathinaikos and Panionios GSS.
• Bayern are at home against Bolton in the day's other Group F game.