Fight for the Europa League final
Late drama: Braga shocks Freiburg
Updated April 30, 2026 – 11:05 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
SC Freiburg is playing in a European semi-final for the first time. The first leg comes to a bitter end.
SC Freiburg played against Portuguese representatives SC Braga in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League on Thursday evening. The Bundesliga team had to admit defeat 1:2 (1:1) late on.
The home team took the lead early thanks to a goal from Demir Ege Tıknaz (8th minute). But Freiburg found a quick answer in the person of Vincenzo Grifo (16th). When everyone seemed happy with a draw, Mario Dorgeles shot the Portuguese to success (90+2). In the second leg next Thursday (9 p.m., in the live ticker on t-online), the sports club needs a win to reach the final in Istanbul.
Pau Victor missed the lead for the home team (5th), but just three minutes later Tiknaz celebrated. Freiburg’s answer followed promptly. The guests benefited from a misunderstanding in the build-up game. Jan-Niklas Beste found the running Grifo, who caused the first of two setbacks for Braga. Less than ten minutes later, captain Ricardo Horta had to leave the field injured.
Despite the support of a good 2,000 traveling fans, the sports club made a relatively large number of mistakes in the passing game and only rarely managed to set an accent. But Freiburg’s keeper Noah Atubolu was hardly tested after conceding an early goal. However, when the focus was on the 23-year-old, he was there and saved a controversial penalty against former Bundesliga professional Rodrigo Zalazar shortly before half-time.
Even after the restart, both teams struggled. The opening of the game was repeatedly prevented, and the final consequence was always missing. Freiburg’s Eggestein missed the best chance after just over an hour. In stoppage time, the Portuguese gained an advantage for the second leg.
