A Unique Stat for Every Team Following the Europa League Quarter-Final Thrillers as Braga Shocks Betis

22 – Celta Vigo’s journey has unfortunately come to a close after an uphill battle in their return leg against Freiburg. Following a 3-0 defeat in Germany the previous week, Os Celestes were unable to reverse the situation, losing 3-1 at home for an aggregate score of 6-1. This marks the fourth time Celta have been eliminated at this stage of the UEFA Cup/Europa League, and the three goals conceded at Balaídos represent the highest they’ve allowed at home in European competition in 22 years.

2 – Freiburg delivered a remarkable performance, taking their opportunities and proving challenging to break down as they secured another superb result. Despite being outshot 13-9, the Bundesliga outfit remained composed. This achievement marks their first semi-final appearance in UEFA club competition, making them the only side left in the tournament to reach this stage for the first time. Thursday’s win was only their second victory in the away leg of a two-legged tie.

12 – Similarly to Freiburg, Aston Villa triumphed in both their quarter-final matchups, this time with an even more convincing display, overcoming Bologna 4-0 at Villa Park for a comprehensive 7-1 outcome across the two legs. Four different players found the net for the Villans, who are reaching their second continental semi-final in three seasons. Villa has become a formidable opponent at home in Europe, extending their unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

1 – Bologna’s European campaign has concluded following an 11-match unbeaten streak before being outclassed by Villa. I Rossoblu have traditionally fared well in the UEL/UEFA Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in three of their six appearances. However, it seems that their rivals from Birmingham are their Achilles’ heel, having lost all four encounters. This marks the first time that Bologna has been defeated across both legs of a continental tie.

9 – After reaching the UEFA Conference League final last May, Real Betis appeared poised to advance to the semi-finals. Leading 2-0 at home against Sporting Braga, Los Verdiblancos suffered a dramatic collapse, conceding four unanswered goals to fall 4-2 in front of their supporters. The aggregate score of 5-3 saw them eliminated, and this marks the third time Betis has lost at home in Europe despite scoring multiple goals. Remarkably, they have netted two or more goals in their last nine home matches.

3 – Braga are now the only team remaining in the UEL to reach the last four under its current format, pulling off an astonishing comeback against their Iberian rivals. The four goals scored by Os Arcebispos in an away knockout match is a record for the club. They are set to face Freiburg in the semi-finals, marking their first appearance at this stage in 15 years, creating a significant opportunity for both teams. Thursday’s victory against a Spanish side marks Braga’s third win over La Liga teams, with their previous successes being against Sevilla.

14 – Morgan Gibbs-White’s early goal, netted just 12 minutes into the match, was enough for Nottingham Forest to secure a 1-0 victory over Porto at The City Ground, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. This advancement marks their fourth continental semi-final, and their second in the UEFA Cup/Europa League. They previously lost to Anderlecht back in the 1984/85 season and will be hoping for a better outcome in their all-English encounter with Villa. Keeping a clean sheet is crucial for home games, as Forest’s last 14 European home victories have seen them stop their opponents from scoring.

4 – Porto, who entered this season’s competition as the only former winners of the Europa League, met their end in the quarter-finals, equalling their best run since the 2013/14 season. Both of their defeats this term came against Forest, with Jan Bednarek’s red card early in the match proving to be a significant loss. They will now turn their focus back to the domestic league, where they aim to maintain their top position. Porto has not won any of their last four encounters against English sides, with a record of 0 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses.