Europa League

Semifinals! Freiburg thrashes Celta 6-1 on aggregate

Freiburg’s “Eurofighters”(Bild: EPA/SALVADOR SAS)

SC Freiburg and Austrian national team defender Philipp Lienhart have confidently reached the Europa League semifinals! Following their 3-0 home win over Celta Vigo, the Germans followed up with a 3-1 (2-0) victory in Spain on Thursday—which means they will now face Sporting Braga, featuring Austrian national team player Florian Grillitsch, in the final four. This means that an Austrian will definitely be in the final on May 20 in Istanbul...

Igor Matanovic (33rd) and Yuito Suzuki (39th, 50th) scored for SC Freiburg at Celta Vigo against the hapless hosts; Lienhart was substituted in the 71st minute due to thigh muscle issues.

Braga turns the game around in Seville
Grillitsch celebrated with Braga after a 4-2 victory following a 0-2 deficit at Betis Sevilla. The first leg had ended 1-1 after a spectacular backheel goal by the Lower Austrian. Grillitsch played the entire match in midfield, and his team turned the game around with goals from Pau Victor (38th), Vitor Carvalho (49'), Ricardo Horta (53'/penalty), and Jean-Baptiste Gorby (74'). Braga reached the Europa League semifinals for the second time since 2011. Back then, the club from northern Portugal had only been eliminated in the final by local rivals FC Porto.

Nottingham advances withaluckywin
 Nottingham Forest ensured that this rematch 15 years later at Besiktas Park in Istanbul would not happen with alucky1-0 home win against Porto (first leg 1-1). After an early red card for Jan Bednarek (8th minute), the Portuguese side hit the crossbar twice after halftime. In the end, however, Nottingham advanced to the semifinals thanks to a deflected shot by Morgan Gibbs-White (12th minute) and will face Premier League rival Aston Villa, who defeated Bologna 4-0 at home after a 3-1 win in the first leg.

The results:
Celta Vigo – SC Freiburg 1-3 (0-2)
Goals: Swedberg (91') and Matanovic (33'), Suzuki (39', 50')
First leg 0-3 – Freiburg advances with an aggregate score of 6-1

Aston Villa – FC Bologna 4-0 (3-0)
Goals: Watkins (16'), Buendia (26'), Rogers (39'), Konsa (89')
First leg 3:1 – Aston Villa advances with an aggregate score of 7:1

Nottingham Forest – FC Porto 1–0 (1–0)
Goal: Gibbs-White (12')
Red card: Bednarek (Porto/8.)
First leg 1–1 – Nottingham advances with an aggregate score of 2–1

Betis Sevilla – Sporting Braga 2–4 (2–1)
Goals: Antony (13'), Ezzalzouli (26') and Victor (38'), Carvalho (49'), Horta (53'/penalty), Gorby (74')
First leg 1–1 – Braga advances with an aggregate score of 5–3