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Besiktas braced for progression Besiktas are in pole position to qualify from their UEFA Europa League round of 32 second-leg tie against last season's losing finalists Braga.

The Turkish Super Lig side took a 2-0 lead in last week's first encounter at Braga and return home knowing that a meeting with Lazio or Atletico Madrid awaits in the round of 16.

In the first leg, Braga winger Helder Barbosa was sent off just before half an hour, with Besiktas' Tomas Sivok and Simao taking advantage.

Black Eagles coach Carlos Carvalhal is a former player and coach of the Portuguese side and grew up in the town, but he now finds himself on the brink of ending his former club's European dream this season.

The Turkish side are no strangers to this stage in the competition and reached the same point last season, but bowed out after they were thrashed 8-1 on aggregate by Dynamo Kiev.

However, the omens bode well this time around, as Besiktas have won all four of their home games in European competition this season and have averaged three goals a game in Istanbul.

They also became the first ever Turkish side to top a European qualifying group when they beat Barclays Premier League side Stoke to win Group E.

Braga are regulars at this stage of the tournament and have progressed from the round of 32 four times in the last six seasons.

Last year they were beaten 1-0 by Porto in the final at Dublin's Aviva stadium, and the game will face a Besiktas side that features six Portuguese players in the clash.

Leonardo Jardim's Braga have gained a win and three draws away from home in European competition this season so should approach the second leg full of confidence despite falling two goals down at home.

This is a fact known by Black Eagles striker Hugo Almeida, who was quick to play down over-confidence ahead of the return game.

"Our work is only half done," Almeida told www.uefa.com after the first-leg. "We knew we would have a tough match because they are a very good team. "There are still 90 minutes to play and we have to be very careful.

Besiktas vs Braga

Last modified 22:22 23/02/12

Besiktas progress despite defeat Braga won 1-0 on the night in Turkey but the losing finalists from last season bowed out of the Europa League as they suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Besiktas.

Rodrigo Lima's goal got Braga back into it midway through the second half, but Besiktas managed to keep them on the back foot for much of the rest of the match before they squandered a host of late chances.

Needing an early goal to get back into the tie, Braga wasted little time in setting about the Besiktas goal, with Alan Osorio denied early on before Hugo Viana sent a long-range attempt wide and Ruben Amorim's close-range effort went over.

They got the breakthrough in the 25th minute, with Lima latching on to Alan Osorio's pass to slot home from inside the six-yard box.

Besiktas responded with a Veli Kavlak effort from 25 yards that went wide before Ricardo Quaresma tested Silva Quim from the edge of the area.

The hosts were very much back on top, stifling Braga's attempts to force a second by pegging them back in their own half.

Hugo Almeida had a shot charged down by Ferreira Douglao and Quim could only parry Manuel Fernandes' effort wide for a corner.

Douglao got in another block to deny Almeida while, at the other end, Lima fired wide as Braga had the last chance of the first half.

Besiktas were on top again early in the second half, but Quaresma could not keep his shot down and Tomas Sivok's close-range effort from a corner was turned away by Quim.

As the game moved into the final 20 minutes, Braga pushed forward again but Lima missed the target twice in quick succession while Paulo Cesar's effort was charged down by Sivok.

Besiktas came back as Quim denied Fernandes and Almeida, while Quaresma's shot was blocked.

Braga's efforts became more frantic with time ticking down, and Douglao blazing over from close-range and Osorio denied just yards in front of goal as Ibrahim Toraman made a critical block.