A stat for each team after the Europa League quarter-final deciders as Braga stun Betis

A stat for each team after the Europa League quarter-final deciders as Braga stun Betis
Topics:

22 - Celta Vigo's European campaign has reached its conclusion after a tough second leg against Freiburg. Following a 3-0 defeat in Germany last week, Os Celestes failed to mount a recovery, losing 3-1 at home and suffering a 6-1 aggregate loss. This marks the fourth occasion Celta have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Cup or Europa League, with the three goals conceded at Balaidos representing their highest tally in a European home fixture in 22 years.

2 - Freiburg delivered a remarkable double effort in the quarter-finals, capitalising on opportunities while remaining resilient to secure another impressive outcome. Despite facing 13 shots to their 9, the Bundesliga outfit stayed composed. They have now advanced to their first ever semi-final in UEFA club competitions, standing as the sole debutant among the remaining teams. Their Thursday victory was only the second time they have triumphed in the away leg of a two-legged knockout tie.

12 - Similar to Freiburg, Aston Villa triumphed in both of their quarter-final encounters. On this occasion, they produced an even more dominant display, defeating Bologna 4-0 at Villa Park for a 7-1 aggregate win. Four distinct scorers contributed for the Villans, who are reaching a second continental semi-final within their past three seasons. It remains a formidable challenge to overcome Villa on home soil in Europe, as this success extended their unbeaten run in such matches to 12.

1 - Bologna's European adventure has ended after an 11-match unbeaten streak, as they were comprehensively beaten by Villa. I Rossoblu have historically performed well in the UEL or UEFA Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in three of their six participations. Their opponents from Birmingham appear to be their Achilles heel, with Villa winning all four previous meetings. Bologna have now lost both legs of a continental tie for the first time.

9 - Having reached the UEFA Conference League final in May last year, Real Betis looked poised to advance to the semi-finals. Leading 2-0 on the evening versus Sporting Braga, Los Verdiblancos experienced a dramatic downfall, conceding four without reply to lose 4-2 before their supporters. This eliminated them, with Braga progressing 5-3 on aggregate. It is the third instance of Betis suffering a home defeat in Europe while netting multiple goals. Indeed, they have now achieved two or more goals in every one of their last nine home fixtures.

3 - Braga stand as the only remaining team in the UEL to have previously attained the final four under the competition's present format, achieving a sensational turnaround to shock their Iberian rivals. The four goals from Os Arcebispos marked their highest total in an away knockout match. This paves the way for a semi-final clash with Freiburg, their first in 15 years, offering a significant opportunity for both clubs. Braga overcame a Spanish side for the third time on Thursday, with their prior two victories against Sevilla.

14 - Morgan Gibbs-White's early strike just 12 minutes into the game was enough for Nottingham Forest to overcome Porto 1-0 at The City Ground, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. This positions them for a fourth continental semi-final and their second in the UEFA Cup or Europa League. They fell short in their last one versus Anderlecht in 1984/85, but will aim for improved fortune in their all-English showdown with Villa. Maintaining a shutout has been crucial in home victories, as Forest's previous 14 European home wins all featured clean sheets.

4 - Porto, the sole team to have previously claimed the Europa League trophy entering this season, have exited at the quarter-finals, their deepest progress since 2013/14. Their only two losses this campaign were against Forest, with the red card to Jan Bednarek under 10 minutes from kick-off proving highly damaging. Dragao will now refocus on the domestic league to preserve their position at the summit. They have now gone four matches without a win against English teams (0-1-3).