UEL: Freiburg Edge Braga on Aggregate to Book Europa League Final Spot

Freiburg overturn first-leg deficit with win over Braga

Freiburg held on after late Braga pressure to reach their first European final and secure a place in Istanbul.

Hornicek made several key saves for Braga, but Freiburg’s dominance and Kubler’s header proved decisive...

Lukas Kubler scored twice as SC Freiburg beat SC Braga 3-1 to overturn a first-leg deficit and book their place in a first European final.

The 4-3 aggregate win sent Julian Schuster’s side through to the UEFA Europa League semi-final, ending Braga’s hopes of reaching the final for the first time since 2011.

Freiburg were chasing a UEFA Europa League record of 11 straight home wins, and Braga’s slender first-leg advantage looked even shakier when Mario Dorgeles was sent off after just six minutes. He pulled down Jan-Niklas Beste outside the box after Beste was played through on goal by Igor Matanovic.

Beste stepped up for the resulting free-kick himself, but his effort deflected just wide. Freiburg didn’t have to wait long to capitalize on the extra man though, making it count in the 19th minute.

After Braga failed to clear a Vincenzo Grifo cross, Kubler kept the pressure on. His attempt to block the clearance ended up deflecting off his shin and looping into the bottom corner.

Despite Freiburg controlling over 75% of possession in the first half, their best chance before the break initially looked to be a direct run and shot from Johan Manzambi that forced a save from Lukas Hornicek. That changed four minutes before half-time when Manzambi drifted in from the left with time and space, curling a 25-yard effort past Hornicek.

Having taken the lead, the hosts nearly gave it away in stoppage time. Víctor Gomez rounded Noah Atubolu and hit the post, and Rodrigo Zalazar’s follow-up was blocked brilliantly by Kubler.

Freiburg came close to extending their advantage several times in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Vincenzo Grifo’s strike from the edge of the box hit the base of the post, and Matthias Ginter followed it up with a cleanly struck 30-yard volley that drifted just wide.

Hornicek stretched to tip a curling strike destined for the top corner away, denying Manzambi what would have been a stunning second goal. Freiburg’s failure to put the game to bed left Braga dangerous on the counter, and Atubolu had to react quickly at his near post to keep out Jean-Baptiste Gorby before the hour mark.

Os Arcebispos, unbeaten in 11 European second legs, thought they were extending that record when Joao Moutinho bent an effort goalward, only for it to drift just wide.

Hornicek then kept Braga’s hopes alive with a save from Beste. From the resulting corner, he produced an outstanding double stop, first denying Matanovic’s header and then reacting to block Ginter’s follow-up.

Freiburg win at home to secure their place in the final 😤#UEL pic.twitter.com/pv7a469bLK

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 7, 2026

With 18 minutes left, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do when Grifo’s free-kick found Kubler, who powered a header home. Freiburg’s push toward the final hit a snag in the 79th minute as Pau Victor nodded in after Gomez volleyed Moutinho’s free-kick across goal, cutting the aggregate lead to one.

Atubolu tipped a dipping Gorby strike over the bar two minutes from time as Freiburg held on to secure their first-ever win over Portuguese opposition and a place in Istanbul. For Braga, it was a costly result, marking only their fourth defeat in 21 Europa League matches.