Braga and Real Betis are set to meet in Minho for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie. Both sides secured turnaround victories in the previous round and will be hoping for a more favourable first-leg result this time around.
Braga’s Road to the Quarter-Finals
Braga overturned a two-goal deficit against Ferencvaros in the last 16. Despite losing 2-0 in Budapest, they won the return leg 4-0. Ricardo Horta and Florian Grillitsch scored early goals, followed by Gabri Martinez and a second from Horta to seal the victory for Carlos Vicens’s team.
This is the fourth time the Archbishops have reached the Europa League quarter-finals. The only time they progressed beyond this stage was in 2010-11, when they lost to Porto in the final.
Before their most recent home setback against Porto, Braga had won eight of their previous 10 matches in front of their fans. In their Europa League campaign, Braga have kept seven clean sheets in 10 games.
Braga’s defence proved solid in their recent match against Moreirense, securing a 1-0 victory. Fran Navarro’s goal in the 24th minute proved decisive, leaving the Arsenalistas fourth in the Primeira Liga table.
Real Betis Aiming for First Europa League Semi-Final
Real Betis head into this match following a goalless draw against Espanyol. They are currently fifth in the La Liga table, with patchy form overall.
El Glorioso have only won one of their last eight matches across all competitions. That win came in their most recent Europa League outing, a 4-0 victory over Panathinaikos, securing a 4-1 aggregate win after a 1-0 defeat in Greece.
That victory secured a maiden UEL quarter-final berth for Betis. They previously reached the last eight of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice.
Looking Ahead to the First Leg
Braga and Real Betis will both be aiming to take an advantage into the second leg. Braga will look to their strong home form and defensive record, while Real Betis will hope to build on their emphatic victory over Panathinaikos.