Braga Vs Sc Freiburg: Freiburg Face First-Ever Semi-Final in Braga
Braga vs sc freiburg lands in Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday night with a place in the Europa League final on the line. Freiburg are in a first-ever semi-final, while Braga are chasing another step toward Istanbul after a 5-3 aggregate win over Real Betis.
The winner will go to Besiktas Park in Istanbul on May 20 to face either Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa. Braga have won seven of their 12 Europa League matches this season and finished sixth in the 36-team League Phase, while Freiburg finished seventh with 17 points.
Estadio Municipal de Braga
Braga enter the first leg after a 2-1 loss to Santa Clara last weekend, a result that left them 16 points behind Sporting Lisbon in third with three league games remaining. In Europe, though, they have been harder to push around at home, going four matches unbeaten against German opposition and winning three of their five European home games without conceding.
That record sits alongside a competition-high seven clean sheets in the Europa League this season. Braga also beat Ferencvaros 4-0 in the second leg of the last 16, so Freiburg are walking into a ground where Braga have repeatedly controlled results without giving much away.
Julian Schuster’s Freiburg
Freiburg arrive with their own credentials. They beat Genk 5-2 in the last 16 and Celta Vigo 6-1 in the quarter-finals, and head coach Julian Schuster called that quarter-final win a “very historic moment.” He also wants his team to keep “great focus” as the competition tightens.
But the away numbers are less convincing. Freiburg lost 4-0 away to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, are eighth in the Bundesliga and just outside the European qualification places on goal difference, and have won only two of their last nine Europa League away matches.
They have also failed to score in three of their last four Europa League away matches, including two of their last three away games without scoring earlier this year. That gives Braga a clear opening in the first leg, especially with Freiburg facing their first semi-final and trying to turn a strong home run in Europe into something more durable on the road.
Braga’s injury list
Braga were without Diego Rodrigues, Sikou Niakate and Adrian Leon Barisic because of injury, while Florian Grillitsch is doubtful after taking a knock against Santa Clara. Gabriel Moscardo is ruled out through suspension.
That leaves Carlos Vicens with key decisions before a tie that already carries more weight than a normal semi-final. Braga have done enough in Europe to reach this stage, but Freiburg’s run means Thursday night starts with a clear split: Braga’s home edge against Freiburg’s first shot at a major European semi-final.
