Europa League Thriller: Braga Come From Behind To Reach Semi-finals As Horta Leads Comeback Against Real Betis

Braga produced a dramatic comeback to beat Real Betis 4-2 in the Europa League quarter-final second leg, progressing 5-3 on aggregate. The Portuguese side overturned a two-goal deficit at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla and will now face Freiburg for a place in the final, with captain Ricardo Horta central to the turnaround.

Real Betis controlled the tie during the opening half-hour and appeared on course for the semi-finals. Antony headed in after 13 minutes from Abde Ezzalzouli’s deflected cross. Ezzalzouli then finished a swift counter-attack shortly before the half-hour mark, giving the LaLiga club a 2-0 lead on the night and 3-1 advantage overall.

Braga’s response began in the 38th minute after a costly mix-up in the Betis defence. Marc Bartra collided with Diego Llorente, leaving space on the right. Victor Gomez collected the loose ball and squared for Pau Victor, who applied a simple close-range finish that cut Betis’ lead on the night and revived Braga’s hopes.

The visitors levelled the aggregate score four minutes after half-time through a set-piece. Ricardo Horta swung in a free-kick from the left, which Pau Lopez misjudged badly. The goalkeeper came out and missed the ball, allowing Vitor Carvalho to head into an empty net. Braga then sensed momentum had completely shifted their way in Seville.

Soon after, Braga moved ahead in both the second leg and the tie from the penalty spot. Sofyan Amrabat brought down Demir Ege Tiknaz inside the area with a clumsy challenge. Horta took responsibility and converted the penalty calmly. Jean-Baptiste Gorby then struck a powerful volley in the 74th minute, sealing a 4-2 away victory.

The comeback victory was also reflected in the underlying numbers. Braga edged the expected goals measure 1.5 to 1.18 and were highly efficient in attack. The Portuguese team scored four times from only five shots on target in Spain. Horta contributed directly to two goals, underlining influence during a high-pressure European knockout tie.

Horta finished the match with one goal and one assist, continuing strong Europa League form. Only Antony and Deniz Undav, both on nine, have more direct goal involvements in this season’s competition than Horta’s eight, split equally between four goals and four assists, highlighting consistent attacking output across Braga’s continental campaign.

Left wing-back Gabri Martinez also delivered an important all-round display for Braga. Martinez won a match-high 10 duels from 18 contested and completed four dribbles, more than any other player. Martinez also succeeded with both tackles attempted, giving 100% success in that metric and providing defensive balance alongside aggressive forward runs on the flank.

Braga’s players and staff quickly reflected the mood following the late surge against Real Betis. Their official account posted a message after the final whistle as the club shifted focus towards Freiburg and a potential Europa League final appearance. The tweet underlined a sense of continued effort across the squad and supporters.

Braga’s victory over Real Betis sends the Portuguese side into a semi-final against Freiburg with confidence. The match in Seville showed resilience after a poor start, clinical attacking play and key contributions from Horta, Carvalho, Gorby and Gabri Martinez, providing a clear statement of intent for the remainder of their Europa League campaign.