A defeat in Ukraine, and victory for AZ Alkmaar at Malmo FF, will see FK Austria Wien out of the UEFA Europa League, while victory will put FC Metalist Kharkiv into the round of 32.
A Cleiton Xavier penalty completed a Metalist comeback when the Ukrainian team won 2-1 in the sides’ first meeting on matchday one. Tomáš Jun put Austria ahead on seven minutes, but defender Papa Gueye headed the visitors level (56) and Xavier sealed all three points with a coolly-taken spot kick 11 minutes from the end.
In Metalist’s only previous meeting with Austrian opponents, they fell foul of SK Sturm Graz in the 2009/10 UEFA Cup play-offs. Their drew 1-1 in Austria but lost 1-0 in the home return.
Austria midfielder Peter Hlinka played for Sturm in both of those games.
Austria’s record in 12 games against Ukrainian sides reads W3 D3 L6 (W0 D3 L3 in Ukraine)
Unbeaten in six European games this season (four wins and two draws), Metalist seem to have saved their best performances for away games – recording three successive victories – while their 3-1 win at home against Malm0 FF on matchday four ended a three-game wait for a European success in Kharkiv.
Austria have picked up four of their five Group G points away from home. Only one of their last five continental away fixtures has ended in defeat – 1-0 at CS Gaz Metan Mediaş in this season’s UEFA Europa League play-off round.