Sporting Braga reaches Europa League semi-finals with stunning comeback win over Real Betis

Sporting de Braga secured their place in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals with a remarkable 4-2 victory over Real Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville on April 16, 2026, overturning a two-goal deficit to win 5-3 on aggregate.

The Portuguese side produced a comeback for the ages after falling behind to early goals from Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli. Braga responded with goals from Pau Victor, Vitor Carvalho, a Ricardo Horta penalty, and a late strike from Jean-Baptiste Gorby to complete the turnaround.

The victory capped a remarkable European campaign for Braga, who had not reached the Europa League semi-finals in 15 years. They will now face SC Freiburg, who advanced to their first-ever European semi-final after defeating Celta Vigo 3-1 in the second leg to win 6-1 on aggregate.

Match turns on its head in second half

Real Betis began the match with purpose, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Antony finished off a swift counter-attack. The Brazilian winger doubled the advantage just before the half-hour mark, latching onto a loose ball inside the box to make it 2-0.

Braga, however, showed resilience immediately after the break. Pau Victor pulled one back in the 48th minute with a composed finish after latching onto a through ball, setting the stage for a dramatic revival.

The momentum shifted completely in the 60th minute when Vitor Carvalho leveled the scores with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. The goal silenced the home crowd and ignited the Braga bench, who sensed an opportunity to seize control.

Referee István Kovács awarded Braga a penalty in the 72nd minute after a handball by Real Betis’ Marc Bartra inside the penalty area. Ricardo Horta stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick to position Braga ahead for the first time in the tie.

With Betis pushing desperately for an equalizer, Braga sealed the victory in stoppage time. Jean-Baptiste Gorby raced onto a long pass over the top and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva in the 89th minute to make it 4-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.

Braga’s resilience rewarded

The victory was a testament to Braga’s mental strength and tactical discipline throughout the tie. After losing the first leg 1-0 in Portugal, few gave them a chance of progressing against a Betis side that had shown strong form in the competition.

Head coach Artur Jorge made crucial adjustments at halftime, shifting to a more aggressive pressing system that disrupted Betis’ rhythm and created the openings Braga needed to mount their comeback. The changes paid immediate dividends as Braga dominated possession and territory after the restart.

For Real Betis, the defeat ended their hopes of silverware this season after a promising run in the Europa League. Despite the loss, their campaign included notable victories over Panathinaikos, Feyenoord, and Nottingham Forest, showcasing their ability to compete at this level.

Path to the semi-finals

Braga’s journey to the last four included victories over Roma in the knockout round play-offs and Union Berlin in the round of 16. Their quarter-final triumph over Betis marks their deepest run in a European competition since reaching the UEFA Cup final in 2010-11.

Freiburg, their semi-final opponents, defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 in the second leg of their quarter-final tie to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory. The German side had previously eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 16 and will now face Braga for a place in the final.

What’s next for Braga

Braga will now prepare for their first-ever Europa League semi-final against SC Freiburg. The first leg is scheduled for April 30, 2026, at the Schwarzwald-Stadion in Freiburg, with the return leg set for May 7, 2026, at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.

The winner of that tie will advance to the Europa League final, scheduled for May 21, 2026, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Sevilla are the defending champions, having won the competition in 2025.

For continued updates on Braga’s European campaign and other sports news, follow Archysport’s dedicated football coverage.