Beşiktaş downs Olympiacos, sets sights on Lyon in Europa League quarterfinals

Beşiktaş will take on Lyon of France in the Europa League quarterfinals after knocking out Greek team Olympiacos on March 16.

The draw on March 17 pitted the defending Turkish league champion against the French league runner-up, with the first leg scheduled to be played on April 13 in Lyon. 

The second leg of the clash, between two teams that have never before played against each other on the European stage, will be on April 20 in Istanbul.

Beşiktaş is aiming high in European football's second-tier competition after reaching the quarterfinals with a confidence-boosting 4-1 victory.

Striker Vincent Aboubakar scored the opening goal for Beşiktaş in the 10th minute after Anderson Talisca delivered a corner and Aboubakar rattled the net with a powerful header.

Beşiktaş increased its lead to two in the 22nd minute, when winger Ryan Babel, who had not scored a European goal since August 2010, placed a low shot into the net.

The Istanbul side was unable to protect the early two-gold lead as Tarik Elyounoussi scored a volley which deflected off the back of defender Adriano and beat goalkeeper Fabri.

Olympiacos got another lifeline in the 39th minute when the referee showed Aboubakar a red card for an off-the-ball incident.

In the second half, 10-man Beşiktaş needed to secure their lead to avoid elimination, and the Turkish side ultimately ended the Greek league leaders' hopes by scoring twice more.

Babel scored his second in the match in the 75th minute and Cenk Tosun - who came off the bench for Ricardo Quaresma - found the net in the 84th minute.

Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş was delighted with the result.

"Our fans provided us with great support, especially in the second half,...