Olympiacos v Beşiktaş facts

With a previous tie having been declared a walkover back in 1958, Olympiacos and Beşiktaş are set for a first competitive encounter in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.

Previous meetings
• The teams are meeting for the first time in UEFA competition but were drawn together in the preliminary round of the 1958/59 European Champion Clubs' Cup; Olympiacos withdrew due to political problems between Greece and Turkey, and Beşiktaş progressed to the first round (where they lost to Real Madrid).

• The clubs have contested friendly games for the last two summers; Olympiacos won 2-1 in 2015, but Beşiktaş triumphed 1-0 in August 2016.

• Olympiacos have played five matches against Turkish sides in UEFA competition with the record: W2 D1 L2 (W1 D1 in Greece – W1 L2 in Turkey). In the round of 32 against Osmanlıspor they prevailed 3-0 in Turkey after a goalless first-leg draw.

• Beşiktaş drew both of their previous UEFA meetings with Greek sides; 1-1 at home and 2-2 away against Asteras Tripolis in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League group stage.

• This is the second time the reigning champions of Greece and Turkey have met in UEFA competition, following Galatasaray's 1-0 home win against Olympiacos in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage.

Form guide
• Olympiacos's last two European home games ended in draws: 1-1 then 0-0.

• Beşiktaş have scored in 16 of their last 17 European fixtures – the exception a 6-0 loss at Dynamo Kyiv in their final group game in this season's UEFA Champions League.

• Olympiacos have reached the round of 16 for the first time since 2011/12, having fallen at their first springtime hurdle in the last four seasons. They have never made it to the last eight in this competition but advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1992/93 and the UEFA Champions League in 1998/99.

• The nearest Beşiktaş have come to lifting a major European honour was reaching the last eight of the UEFA Cup in 2002/03 and the European Cup quarter-finals in 1986/87.

Links and trivia
• The journey from Istanbul to Piraeus is around 670km.

• Former team-mates:
Marko Marin (Olympiacos) & Dusko Tošić (Beşiktaş) – Werder Bremen, 2009–10
Tarik Elyounoussi (Olympiacos) & Andreas Beck (Beşiktaş) – Hoffenheim, 2013–15
Esteban Cambiasso (Olympiacos) & Ricardo Quaresma (Beşiktaş) – Internazionale Milano, 2008–10.
Aly Cissokho (Olympiacos) & Ricardo Quaresma (Beşiktaş) – Porto, 2015

Olympiacos's Óscar Cardozo once played in Turkey for Trabzonspor©Getty Images

• Olympiacos's Manuel da Costa (Sivasspor 2013–14), Óscar Cardozo (Trabzonspor 2014–16) and Marin (Trabzonsopor 2015–16) all have Turkish league experience.

• Marin and Beck won the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship together with Germany.

• Beşiktaş and Olympiacos are among four domestic champions in the round of 16 along with APOEL and København.

The coaches
• On Monday 6 March, Olympiacos parted company with Paulo Bento after six months in charge. Youth coach Vasilis Vouzas, 50, has stepped up on an interim basis, with Ariel Ibagaza and Tasos Pantos assisting him. The first leg against Beşiktaş will be his first match in charge.

• Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş famously guided Turkey to third place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. A goalkeeper who spent the majority of his playing career at home-town club Trabzonspor, he led Beşiktaş to the 2015/16 Turkish title in his first season in charge.