SC Braga kept their European dreams alive Thursday night by overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Real Betis 4-2 at the Estadio de La Cartuja. The thrilling quarter-final victory secured a 5-3 aggregate win for the Portuguese side. The result eliminates Betis from the tournament and advances Braga to their first Europa League semi-final since 2011.
Manuel Pellegrini’s squad came out swinging in Seville. Antony headed in the opener in the 13th minute. Abde Ezzalzouli doubled the advantage from close range just 13 minutes later. Betis controlled 54 percent of the possession and looked poised to cruise into the final four.
But Braga flipped the script just before halftime. Pau Victor found the net in the 38th minute. The momentum shifted completely after the break. Vitor Carvalho tied the match with a towering header in the 49th minute. Just four minutes later, Sofyan Amrabat committed a clumsy foul in the box. Ricardo Horta stepped up and converted the critical penalty. Horta has now tallied four goals and four assists in the tournament this season.
Jean-Baptiste Gorby sealed the comeback with a 74th-minute volley. Braga was ruthlessly efficient. They scored on four of their five shots on target, according to a detailed match report by beIN Sports.
Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Braga head coach Carlos Vicens praised the relentless energy of the traveling supporters and the unity of his squad. “Somos uma famÃlia de gente boa,” Vicens said, translating to “we are a family of good people.” He quickly noted the team must now pivot their focus to an upcoming domestic clash against Famalicão.
The collapse places massive pressure on Pellegrini. Betis must now salvage a top-five LaLiga finish to qualify for next season’s expanded Champions League format. Meanwhile, Braga’s resurrection sets up a semi-final showdown against SC Freiburg starting April 30. This victory matches the recent success of Portuguese clubs on the continental stage, echoing the momentum seen when Benfica Women’s Volleyball earned their first Champions League win earlier this season. Braga now stands just two games away from returning to the final they last reached 15 years ago, as detailed in The Guardian’s recap of the Seville thriller.