Key Takeaways:
- On Thursday, SC Braga overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Real Betis 4-2 in Seville, advancing 5-3 on aggregate in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals
- Ricardo Horta scored his 20th goal of the campaign with a composed penalty, leading Braga’s remarkable turnaround at Estadio de La Cartuja
- Braga will face Freiburg in the semi-finals, hosting the first leg on 30 April in their first last-four appearance since 2011
First-Half Drama Favouring the Hosts
After a 1-1 stalemate in the opening leg, Real Betis quickly established control at Estadio de La Cartuja. On 13 minutes, Antony nodded in Abde Ezzalzouli’s deflected cross to give the Andalusian side a deserved lead, igniting the home crowd’s enthusiasm.
Ezzalzouli doubled the advantage after 25 minutes, clinically finishing Pablo Fornals’ low cutback from close range. Betis nearly extended their lead moments later when Ezzalzouli lashed home Antony’s pass, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside against Antony in the build-up.
Braga then seized momentum on the stroke of half-time through Pau Victor. The former Barcelona striker capitalised on confusion between Marc Bartra and Diego Llorente, volleying the Portuguese team back into contention just before the break.
The road continues… ✨#GanharComTodos | #UEL pic.twitter.com/hc8tnkxgih
— SC Braga (@SCBragaOficial) April 16, 2026
Braga Turn the Tide After the Interval
The comeback continued immediately after the restart. Vitor Carvalho soared to head home and restore parity at 2-2, shifting the tie’s balance firmly in Braga’s favour. A remarkable turnaround was completed on 53 minutes, as club icon Ricardo Horta coolly slotted in his 20th goal of the season from the penalty spot. The opportunity arose after Sofyan Amrabat felled Demir Tiknaz inside the box, leaving Betis reeling.
As Betis sought a route back in a tense final phase, Braga settled the match on 75 minutes. A miscued headed clearance from Ricardo Rodriguez fell to Jean-Baptiste Gorby at the edge of the area, and the 23-year-old unleashed a ferocious strike past Pau Lopez, confirming Braga’s progression to the semi-finals and sparking jubilant celebrations.
What Awaits Both Teams
Carlos Vicens’ Braga will next take on Bundesliga side Freiburg in the semi-finals, with the first leg to be played at home on 30 April. This marks Braga’s first time reaching this stage since they finished runners-up to Porto in 2011.
Meanwhile, Real Betis return to domestic matters with a LaLiga fixture next weekend. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are currently fifth, and a top-five finish could secure UEFA Champions League football if Spain receives an additional berth for the coming season.
| Leg | Date | Score | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 9/04 | 1-1 | – |
| Second | 16/04 | Betis 2-4 Braga | 5-3 Braga |
