Fenerbahce beat Braga 1-0 in the Europa League Last 16 first-leg clash at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
Braga setup with a defensive lineup and frustrated Fenerbahce for much of the first-half while posing a threat on the break.
Fenerbahce started on the upper foot in the second half with Volkan Sen and Caner Erkin pushing forward down the exposing Braga’s vulnerable right flank.
Despite creating a number of chances the Yellow Canaries were unable to find a way through and Vitor Pereiera decided to roll the dice bringing on Luis Nani and changing formation to two strikers when he brought on Fernandao.
The Yellow Canaries had a wealth of attacking talent on but it was defensive midfielder Mehmet Topal who finally broke through with a fabulous finish from outside the penalty area on 83 minutes. The Turkish international midfielder has now scored in his last two Europa League games.
FENERBAHÇE – BRAGA
Stadium: Sukru Saracoglu
Referee: Clement Turpin
Kick-off: 18:00 GMT
Fenerbahce: Volkan, Şener, Kjaer, Alves, Caner, Mehmet Topal, Josef de Souza, Ozan Tufan, Volkan Şen, Alper, Van Persie
Manager: Vitor Pereira
Braga: Matheus, Andre Pinto, Eduardo, Luiz Carlos, Baiano, Rafa Silva, Ahmed Hassan, Ferreira, Josue, Vukcevic, Goiano
Manager: Paulo Fonseca
Goal: 83′ Mehmet Topal
