Key Stat for Each of the Eight Teams in the Europa League Quarter-Finals Following the First Legs, with Freiburg in Command

14 – Braga fought hard but couldn’t maintain their first-half advantage against Real Betis, as Florian Grillitsch’s early flick was levelled by a penalty from Cucho Hernandez just an hour in. The match concluded 1-1 in Portugal, setting up an intriguing second leg in Seville next Thursday.

Braga have had a remarkable Europa League campaign thus far, scoring in all but two of their matches. At home, they have found the net in their last 14 fixtures dating back to the previous season.

4 – Betis, aiming for a second consecutive European final after reaching the Conference League showpiece last spring, struggled in the early stages of the second half before their penalty equaliser. That goal could prove pivotal, especially as they’ll have home advantage for the return fixture.

Whether Los Verdiblancos can push for a further progression—something they’ve never achieved in the Europa League—is yet to be determined. They are currently winless in their last four knockout stage away encounters (0-3-1).

9 – Freiburg were the standout performers of the match week, impressively dispatching Celta Vigo 3-0 at home. A maiden semi-final appearance is now within reach for the Germans, should they maintain their performance in the return leg next week in Spain.

This victory marked Freiburg’s first win against Spanish opposition in their third encounter. Like several other teams in Europe, the Breisgau-Brasilianer have looked formidable at home, boasting an impressive nine clean sheets in European matches on their turf.

13 – Celta Vigo had a match to forget, picking the worst time to concede three goals—something they have experienced on seven occasions in continental competition.

Six of those instances occurred away from home. More alarmingly for Celta, they failed to score for the first time in this season’s Europa League, snapping a streak of 13 continental outings with at least one goal.

16 – The other Portuguese representative in this stage, Porto, drew 1-1 at home against Nottingham Forest. After taking the lead, the Dragoes were only able to savour their advantage for two minutes before Martim Fernandes unfortunately scored an own goal.

Disappointment further mounted for the hosts as they generated numerous chances to secure a win, racking up a total of 16 attempts, nearly triple that of Forest.

3 – Forest will certainly head into next week’s deciding match at the City Ground in a more uplifting mood. Although they didn’t create as many opportunities as their opponents, they will return home with the belief that progression is achievable.

If successful, Forest will equal their best performance in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, a feat they last accomplished in the 1983/84 season. Thus far, they’ve drawn three matches in Europe, all on the road, and remain unbeaten in their three knockout round away fixtures (2-1-0).

1 – Bologna was the only home team to falter this match week, which is somewhat ironic. Vincenzo Italiano’s side succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against the heavily-favoured Aston Villa, significantly complicating their hopes of reaching a first semi-final in 27 years.

I Rossoblu created ample opportunities to score, outshooting Villa 19-8, yet find themselves in a tough position. This match also marked their first-ever home defeat in the competition, ending an impressive 20-game unbeaten streak.

8 – Ollie Watkins’ brace in the second half proved decisive at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, positioning Villa on the brink of their second continental semi-final in the last three years. Under Unai Emery, the side showcased a clinical edge in front of goal, securing the win.

Victories have become a hallmark for Villa in this season’s UEL, having triumphed 10 times in their last 11 matches. This win also marks their eighth consecutive victory, the longest winning streak for them in any UEFA club competition to date.