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

Braga take a 2-1 advantage to Germany as they conclude their UEFA Europa League semi-final against Freiburg.

Mario Dorgeles' 92nd-minute goal gave Braga a first-leg win in Portugal on 30 April. The hosts had taken an eight-minute lead through Demir Ege Tiknaz but it took Freiburg only eight minutes to respond through Vincenzo Grifo – his third goal in his last four Europa League appearances. Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu saved Rodrigo Zalazar's penalty in first-half added time, only for Dorgeles to strike late for the hosts.

Freiburg eliminated Celta 6-1 over two legs in the quarter-finals (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 on 17 points, with the record W5 D2 L1.

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, also on 17 points (W5 D2 L1).

Last match

The first leg was also the teams' first meeting in UEFA competition.

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 before the first leg.

Braga have won six of their last eight games against German teams (D1 L1) having gone winless in their first six (D2 L4). Prior to the first leg, they beat Hoffenheim 3-0 in the league phase of last season's Europa League. Their record in Germany is W2 L4, most recently beating Union Berlin 3-2 in the 2023/24 Champions League 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

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.

This is Freiburg's first European semi-final appearance. They are the 18th different German club to reach the last four of the UEFA Cup/Europa League, four more than any other nation — with England next on 14 representatives.

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.

Key stats

Freiburg have won their last ten home European matches, keeping seven clean sheets.

Only two of Freiburg's last 35 games in UEFA competition finished goalless.

Freiburg have lost the away first leg of a European tie by a one-goal margin on three occasions, progressing once — against Genk in this season's round of 16 (0-1 a, 5-1 h).

Braga have won their last eight two-legged European ties.

The Portuguese side have lost only two of their last 20 matches in UEFA competition (W14 D4).

Braga have won the second leg in ten of their last 11 European ties, drawing the other.

Braga have won seven of eight European ties after a one-goal home victory in the first leg, the exception in the 2021/22 Europa League quarter-finals against Rangers (1-0 h, 1-3 a aet).