Braga v Besiktas

Carvalhal looking forward to homecoming Besiktas coach Carlos Carvalhal will be going home when he takes the Black Eagles to Braga for the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash.

The 46-year-old is a former player and coach of the Portuguese side and grew up in the town, something he admitted played on his mind when the draw was made.

"My house is not far from the Estadio Municipal de Braga," Carvalhal told www.

uefa.

com.

"I can see it from my window.

"I had a strange feeling after the draw.

At first I didn't want it, now I am looking forward to it.

Braga is my home town and my old team, where I played for years.

I will be playing a club I know very well.

" Besiktas became the first Turkish side to top a European qualifying group when they beat Stoke in December to win Group E.

But, hampered by injury problems, they have taken only one point from their last four Super Lig games and will be without midfielder Roberto Hilbert (hamstring) for both legs while Ismail Koybasi (groin) is a doubt.

Besiktas reached the same stage last season, but were thrashed 8-1 on aggregate by Dynamo Kiev, and Carvalhal knows they face another tough test against last season's beaten finalists.

"It won't be easy," he said.

"Braga are a very strong team with big ambitions.

However, they aren't the same team that reached the final and, above all, we are stronger than we were last term.

"Both sides' chances are very similar.

" Braga, beaten by Porto in the final last May, progressed to the last 32 by finishing second to Club Bruges in Group H, the fifth time in the last six seasons they have reached this stage.

Coach Leonardo Jardim is concentrating more on Carvalhal's players than the Braga native, telling a press conference: "We have no special precautions for Carvalhal because he is familiar with Portuguese football, but with the quality of our opponents.

"We have to impose our football, support each other and show good movement.

It is important to avoid conceding and make sure we have the advantage going into the second game.

" Jardim could welcome back central defender Nuno Andre Coelho, who has been out for six months with a knee injury.