Sporting Braga has secured its place in the Europa League semifinals after a dramatic comeback victory over Real Betis, setting up a semifinal clash with SC Freiburg. The Portuguese side overturned a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie, winning 4-2 in Seville to advance 5-3 on aggregate.
The match began poorly for Braga, with Antony putting Betis ahead in the 13th minute before Abdessamad Ezzalzouli doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark. Pau Victor pulled one back for Braga before halftime, but the visitors appeared destined for elimination until the second half.
Vitor Carvalho sparked the revival shortly after the restart, scoring in the 49th minute. Ricardo Horta then converted a penalty four minutes later, and Jean-Baptiste Gorby sealed the remarkable turnaround with a goal in the 64th minute. Braga, finalists in the 2010-11 Europa League campaign, will now face Freiburg in the first leg on April 30 in Portugal.
In the other Europa League semifinal, Aston Villa will meet Nottingham Forest after defeating Bologna 4-0 in the second leg to progress 7-1 on aggregate. The Premier League side, which won the European Cup in 1982, will face the English Championship club that eliminated Porto in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the Conference League semifinals have been finalized with the elimination of both ACF Fiorentina, and 1. FSV Mainz 05. Fiorentina, despite Robin Gosens in their lineup, failed to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Crystal Palace, losing 2-1 in the return leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for Palace early before Albert Gudmundsson replied for Fiorentina, but the English side held on to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
Mainz 05 suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Racing Strasbourg in their Conference League quarterfinal second leg, erasing their 2-0 first-leg advantage. Sebastian Nanasi and Abdoul Ouattara gave Strasbourg the lead before halftime, and Julio Enciso and Emmanuel Emegha added second-half goals to complete the comprehensive victory. The German side, which had never previously reached a European semifinal, will now see Strasbourg face either Club Brugge or Real Betis in the last four.
The Conference League semifinals will therefore feature Strasbourg against the winner of the Brugge-Betis tie, with the first legs scheduled for April 30 and the returns a week later on May 7. The final is set for May 27 in Leipzig.
With Bundesliga representatives Freiburg and Mainz both exiting European competition within days of each other, the German top flight will have no teams remaining in either UEFA club competition this season. Freiburg’s Europa League journey began with a strong group stage performance, although Mainz’s Conference League run had captured imaginations as the club pursued its first major European trophy.
Braga’s resilience in overcoming adversity against Betis highlights the Portuguese club’s experience in European knockout football, having reached the Europa League final over a decade ago. Their upcoming duel with Freiburg presents a fascinating tactical matchup between two sides known for organized, disciplined approaches to the game.
The Premier League derby between Villa and Forest adds further intrigue to the Europa League semifinals, guaranteeing at least one English team in the final for the first time since Chelsea’s triumph in 2019. Villa, under Unai Emery, have transformed into a consistent European force, while Forest’s remarkable recovery from relegation contenders to quarterfinalists has been one of the season’s most compelling stories.
As the semifinal first legs approach, all four remaining teams in each competition know that a single mistake could end their hopes of continental silverware. For Braga and Freiburg, the April 30 encounter in Braga will set the tone for a tie poised to be decided by fine margins, much like the Portuguese side’s own quarterfinal recovery demonstrated.
Fans can follow the Europa League and Conference League semifinals through official UEFA channels, with match details and updates available as the clubs prepare for the penultimate stage of Europe’s secondary club competitions.
The next confirmed checkpoint is the first leg of the Europa League semifinal between Sporting Braga and SC Freiburg on April 30, 2026, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga in Portugal.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming semifinals? Share your predictions and reactions in the comments below.
