Braga reach Europa League semi-finals after stunning comeback to set tie with SC Freiburg
Sporting Braga staged a dramatic comeback to reach the Europa League semi-finals against SC Freiburg; first leg April 30 in Braga, return a week later.
Sporting Braga overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Real Betis 4-2 in Seville and secure a place in the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face SC Freiburg. The Portuguese side recovered from an early 0-2 hole in the quarter-final second leg after a 1-1 draw in the first meeting, producing a late flurry that sent them through. Braga now prepare to host Freiburg on April 30, with the return leg scheduled a week later in the Black Forest.
Braga stages late turnaround in Seville
Braga fell behind in Seville after Antony opened the scoring for Betis in the 13th minute and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli doubled the lead in the 26th. The visitors halved the deficit before half-time, and a swift second-half response reshaped the tie.
Early in the second period Vitor Carvalho pulled a goal back, and Ricardo Horta converted a penalty to level the scoreline. Jean-Baptiste Gorby then completed Braga’s decisive sequence, turning a 0-2 deficit into a 4-2 victory on the night and overturning the quarter-final aggregate.
Key performers and turning points
Antony and Ezzalzouli had looked to have put Betis in control with two well-timed strikes, while Pau Victor’s goal before the break briefly restored hope for the hosts. Braga’s response after the interval, however, exposed defensive lapses and a momentum shift that Betis could not arrest.
Vitor Carvalho’s early second-half goal changed the dynamic, with Horta’s penalty illustrating Braga’s composure under pressure. Gorby’s strike compounded Betis’ woes and sealed progression for a Braga team that reached the Europa League final in 2011.
Freiburg draw sets intriguing semi-final dates
SC Freiburg will now travel to Braga for the Europa League semi-final first leg on April 30, with the second leg scheduled for one week later in Freiburg. The draw sets up a clash between Braga’s attacking resilience and Freiburg’s compact, organized style and recent European form.
Freiburg will aim to contain Braga’s front line while exploiting spaces on counter-attacks, and Braga will look to replicate the intensity they displayed in Seville. Coaches on both sides will likely emphasize set-piece preparation and rotations given the congested calendar at this stage of the season.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest complete Europa League semis
In the other Europa League semi-final path, Aston Villa produced a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Bologna to follow up a 3-1 away victory and secure progression. Villa’s clinical finishing in the return leg removed any doubt about their passage to the last four.
Nottingham Forest advanced past Porto after a narrow 1-0 victory influenced by an early goal from Morgan Gibbs-White and a prolonged period of numerical advantage. The pair now set up a Premier League derby in the semi-finals, matching two English sides with recent continental pedigree.
Conference League semi-finalists confirmed
Elsewhere in UEFA’s secondary competitions, Crystal Palace reached the Conference League semi-finals despite Fiorentina’s late efforts; Palace held an aggregate advantage after winning the return leg. Fiorentina had triumphed 3-0 in the first meeting, but Palace’s second-leg victory was enough to carry them forward overall.
Shakhtar Donetsk also advanced, overcoming AZ Alkmaar on aggregate after a 2-2 away result left the Ukrainians 5-2 ahead over both legs. Rayo Vallecano secured their semi-final spot against AEK Athens after surviving a spirited AEK comeback that fell short, and Racing Strasbourg completed the last four with a dominant 4-0 win over Mainz 05.
What to watch as Europe’s knockout rounds near conclusion
Braga’s psychological edge after a dramatic comeback will be one of the tournament’s talking points as semi-finalists prepare for two-legged ties. Match fitness, squad depth and away-goal management will matter as clubs balance domestic duties with Europe’s late-stage intensity.
Individual match-ups to monitor include Braga’s attacking tridents against Freiburg’s disciplined defensive units, and the domestic rivalry between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, which introduces added familiarity into a European context. Conference League ties also promise tactical battles, with Shakhtar and Palace both having momentum from their quarter-final successes.
Braga’s late resurgence in Seville gives them renewed confidence heading into the semi-finals, while European attention now shifts to the tactical chess of two-legged ties and the calendar-packed weeks ahead.
