3 Things To Watch Out For: Besiktas v Lokomotiv Moscow – Europa League Preview

Besiktas' Mario Gomez reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group H football match between KF Skenderbeu and Besiktas JK at the Elbansan Arena in Elbasan on September 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / GENT SHKULLAKU (Photo credit should read GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images)

Beşiktaş take on Lokomotiv Moscow at the Atatürk Olympic stadium hoping to overtake the Group H leaders and move into first place on eight points.

The last encounter between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw but Lokomotiv will be without Corluka in Istanbul after he was sent off against Beşiktaş a fortnight ago.

We look at three things to watch up for leading up to the Europa League clash.

1. The Super League connection

Every Beşiktaş fan knows Manuel Fernandes and most will have a soft spot for the former Black Eagles who was known as the Maestro. The Portuguese international provided 41 assists and scored 20 goals for the Istanbul giants – most of them pretty spectacular. He has not been provided or scoring at the same rate at Lokomotiv with just four assists and seven goals in 42 games but Beşiktaş will be wary. Another former Super League player who will know Beşiktaş well is Oumar Niasse who has 10 goals and six assists in 16 appearances this season. The former Akhisar man first made a name for himself in Turkey before leaving for Russia.