Lokomotiv Moscow came from behind to draw 1-1 with Besiktas and remain top of Europa League Group H in the clash between the group's top two at Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday.
Both sides came into the clash unbeaten from their opening three group matches, but Lokomotiv knew that a win would secure their progress to the knockout round if Sporting Lisbon failed to beat Skenderbeu later on Thursday and it was they who started the brighter.
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Former Besiktas midfielder Manuel Fernandes tested Tolga Zengin from distance and captain Aleksandr Samedov saw his free kick held by the goalkeeper as the visitors had the first efforts on goal, before Fernandes had another effort blocked.
Despite the chances falling the way of the group leaders, Besiktas had enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening stages in front of their own fans, and they began to pin the away side back as the first half wore on, Vitaliy Denisov making a crucial interception to deny Olcay Sahan at the back post.
Gokhan Tore fired wide as the hosts failed to test Guilherme Marinato with an attempt on target before the break, and they brought Ricardo Quaresma off the bench for the second half in an attempt to add a creative spark.
Besiktas finally tested Guilherme through Oguzhan Ozyakup's effort 10 minutes after the restart, and shortly after they finally found a breakthrough courtesy of their half-time substitute.
Guilherme failed to punch Tore's cross clear adequately and Quaresma controlled the loose ball on his chest before firing a low left-footed effort into the bottom corner to hand the hosts the lead and put them top of the group as it stood.
Both sides had chances to score the game's second goal within a minute of each other, as Samedov and Mario Gomez both missed the target, but it was Lokomotiv who found a leveller with a quarter of an hour to play.
Substitute Aleksei Miranchuk found Baye Niasse and the forward finished calmly to score his third goal in four Europa League matches and restore parity.
Both sides had chances to win it in injury time, first when Ersan Gulum was somehow denied by Guilherme before Zengin's double save kept out Petar Skuletic, but ultimately both sides remained unbeaten as the points were shared.
Tom Nightingale
