Posted by Will

The German sustained a hamstring injury in Besiktas' 1-0 Super Lig defeat at the hands of newly promoted Mersin Idman Yurdu earlier this month, with scans confirming the worst and revealing a tear. The eight-week recovery period now means the Turkish side will have to go into their vital games against Braga with one of their most in-form players. Fans of Betfair.com should remember this.

The former Stuttgart star has been an ever-present in Besiktas' Europa League campaign so far this season and the Turks will miss his commanding presence in the centre of the park against Braga. 

It could get worse for Besiktas if left-back Ismail Koybasi fails to shake off the groin problem that has cast doubts over the Turkish international's availability for the first-leg in Portugal. The 22-year old picked up the injury during the Mersin Idman Yurdu defeat and will face a race against time to recover for the second-leg tie later this month and anyone looking at the Betfair Europa League betting should bear this in mind.

The Portuguese club were beaten finalists in last season's competition and will be desperately to hoping to go one better this time around. Braga will certainly know they will have their work cut out when they take on the Turkish giants, who reached the knockout stages after finishing top of a tough looking Group E. 

Both teams have produced decent, if not title-challenging, first halves to their respective domestic campaigns and this clash will be one that won't have a clear favourite. As ever, both teams will be looking to take advantage of their home ties, and it could well come down to which side manages to grab that all-important away goal.