Scorching Freiburg demolish Celta Vigo to charge into Europa League semi-finals

Even with a three-goal lead from the opening match, Celta displayed minimal resistance during the initial period, allowing Freiburg to secure the aggregate decisively.

The away team signalled their approach right away, with Johan Manzambi attempting a shot from distance yet missing the target. However, their subsequent attempts found the net, the initial one being especially impressive.

A lengthy pass reached Jean-Victor Makengo for a header, and Igor Matanovic finished brilliantly with a volley into the upper corner for his third UEL strike this campaign.

Yuito Suzuki then equalled that count before half-time by executing a clever exchange with Jan-Niklas Beste before slotting into the lower corner with assistance from a touch off Marcos Alonso’s extended leg.

Freiburg had allowed just six goals in the competition up to that point, the fewest among teams, and Celta required an identical number in the latter half to achieve an extraordinary turnaround.

Rather than that, the German side added more goals to level the first-leg result, as Suzuki netted his second.

Manzambi cleverly advanced towards the goal and nearly evaded Ionut Radu, but the ball rolled to Vincenzo Grifo, who passed to Suzuki for a composed finish into the bottom corner.

Iago Aspas aimed for his seventh UEL involvement this season (G3, A3) to provide Celta some solace, but his free-kick bent narrowly astray.

Freiburg countered swiftly, with replacement players threatening as Lucas Holer struck the upright before Derry Scherhant’s follow-up was adroitly diverted by Radu.

For Celta, Fer Lopez sent his shot just beyond the post, as his team still failed to challenge Noah Atubolu. Jones El Abdellaoui succeeded moments later, yet Atubolu blocked him from near range.

Though they displayed greater effort towards the end, even scoring via Williot Swedberg in added time, Celta suffered a clear defeat, shipping three goals for the third consecutive fixture.

Freiburg’s backline was penetrated only once across the full 180 minutes of the matchup, and with merely their second away win in nine UEL outings (D3, L4), they progress assuredly to the semi-finals of a UEFA tournament for the first time ever, complementing their DFB-Pokal quarter-final appearance.