Europa League semi-final first leg: Braga vs Freiburg facts

Freiburg's first-ever European semi-final takes them to Portugal to face Braga in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League tie.

Braga secured their semi-final berth with a 5-3 aggregate triumph against Real Betis in the last eight (1-1 h, 4-2 a). They recovered from a first-leg loss to win 4-2 on aggregate against Ferencváros in the round of 16 (0-2 a, 4-0 h), having finished sixth in the league phase on 17 points (W5 D2 L1).

Freiburg also defeated Spanish opponents in the quarter-finals, eliminating Celta 6-1 over two legs (3-0 h, 3-1 a). They had recovered from losing the first leg of their round of 16 tie with Genk to win 5-2 on aggregate (0-1 a, 5-1 h), and finished seventh in the league phase, also on 17 points, with the record W5 D2 L1.

Last match

Braga and Freiburg are meeting for the first time.

Braga have won five of their last seven games against German teams (D1 L1) having gone winless in their first six (D2 L4). They most recently beat Hoffenheim 3-0 in the league phase of last season's Europa League – one of three wins from their last four home games against German clubs (D1). Their last home defeat by German visitors was a 2-3 loss to Wolfsburg in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage.

Braga have lost both of their two-legged ties with German clubs, both in the UEFA Cup; 0-2 against Schalke in the 1997/98 third round (0-0 h, 0-2 a) and 0-4 to Werder Bremen in the 2007/08 round of 32 (0-3 a, 0-1 h).

Freiburg drew 1-1 at home and 0-0 away against Estoril in the 2013/14 Europa League group stage – their only previous encounters with a Portuguese team.

Braga

Braga have reached only their second major European semi‑final; they won the first, in the 2010/11 Europa League, advancing on away goals against Benfica after a 2-2 aggregate draw (1-2 a, 1-0 h).

That took the Arsenalistas into what is still their only European final, losing 0-1 to Porto in an all-Portuguese contest in Dublin.

Freiburg

This is Freiburg's seventh European campaign, including qualifying, all in the UEFA Cup/Europa League.

Prior to 2025/26, their best showings were consecutive round of 16 appearances in 2022/23 and 2023/24, losing 0-3 to Juventus (0-1 a, 0-2 h) and 1-5 to West Ham (1-0 h, 0-5 a) respectively.

Key stats

Braga are the first Portuguese club to reach a European semi‑final since the 2013/14 Europa League, when Benfica beat Juventus 2-1 on aggregate.

Braga have won their last eight two-legged ties in UEFA competition.

The Portuguese side have lost only two of their last 19 European matches (W13 D4), and just two of their last 16 at home (W12 D2).

Braga have played more matches in the Europa League era (Matchday 1 to final) than any other club; this is their 100th game in the competition proper.

Freiburg are the 18th different German club to reach the UEFA Cup/Europa League semi‑finals, four more than any other nation; England are next on 14.

The German club have lost only two of their last 12 European matches (W8 D2) and have won their last three, scoring 11 goals.

Only two of Freiburg's last 34 European matches finished scoreless.