Football: Besiktas eyeing Europa League quarter-finals

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Besiktas will square off against Olympiacos in a UEFA Europa League Round 16 match-up on Thursday evening in Istanbul to earn a quarter-finals ticket.

Last week's match at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw, giving the Turkish league leaders a slight advantage ahead of the match at Vodafone Arena.

Besiktas midfielder Tolgay Arslan will not be playing the game tonight, having been suspended after receiving his third yellow card in the first leg, while Olympiacos will miss Bruno Viana again, who was booked with a red card in the team's Round 32 clash against Turkey's Osmanlispor.

If Besiktas striker Vincent Aboubakar, defenders Caner Erkin or Marcelo receive a yellow card, they will be suspended in the next round, if Besiktas advances.

Besiktas need at least a goalless draw to advance to the quarters while a score of 1-1 will extend the match to extra time, and any other draws will benefit Olympiacos.

Prior to Besiktas match-up, Olympiacos eliminated Osmanlispor in Round 32 with an aggregate of 3-0.

Other Thursday match-ups are listed as below:

Genk (Begium) - Gent (Belgium) (Genk lead 5-2 on aggregate)

Krasnodar (Russia) - Celta Vigo (Spain) (Celta lead 2-1 on aggregate)

Ajax (Netherlands) - FC Copenhag (Denmark) (FC Copenhag lead 2-1 on aggregate)

Manchester United (England) - Rostov (Russia) (Scores drawn on aggregate - 1-1)

Roma (Italy) - Lyon (France) (Lyon lead 4-2 on aggregate)

Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) - Schalke (Germany) (Scores drawn on aggregate - 1-1)

Anderlecht (Belgium) - APOEL Nicosia (Greek Cyprus Adm.) (Anderlecht lead 1-0 on aggregate)