Freiburg vs Braga Europa League semi-final preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, team news
Braga are set to travel to Freiburg for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie.
Match at a glance
When: Thursday 7 May (21:00 CET)
Where: Stadion am Wolfswinkel, Freiburg
What: Europa League semi-final second leg
Next: Final, Istanbul, Wednesday 20 May (21:00 CET)
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch the game on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.
What you need to know?
Having conceded early in the first leg, Freiburg equalised through their all-time leading scorer Vincenzo Grifo and kept themselves in contention with a penalty save before half-time, only to concede a winner in second-half added time. “We’ve made it difficult for ourselves because we lacked the energy at the end,” said goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, but a one-goal deficit is not insurmountable. Indeed, Freiburg have won their last ten European home games, scoring 28 goals in the process and conceding just four.
Braga are well aware of their hosts’ qualities at the Stadion am Wolfswinkel, but also quietly confident of their ability to spring another surprise as they aim to reach their second Europa League final, after succumbing to Porto in the all-Portuguese 2010/11 decider in Dublin (current Braga player João Moutinho was on the winning side in that game). Coach Carlos Vicens saw plenty of European success during his time as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City assistant, and his side have plenty of sting in their tail.
Possible line-ups
Freiburg: Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Höler, Grifo; Matanović
Braga: Horníček; Victor Gómez, Carvalho, Paulo Oliveira, Lagerbielke; Demir Ege Tıknaz, João Moutinho, Gorby; Zalazar, Pau Victor, Dorgeles
Form guide
Freiburg
Form: DLLLWW (most recent game first)
Latest: Freiburg 1-1 Wolfsburg, 03/05, German Bundesliga
Braga
Form: DWLWDW (most recent game first)
Latest: Braga 1-1 Estoril, 03/05, Portuguese First Division
Views from the camps
Julian Schuster, Freiburg coach: “We know that when you play in a European semi-final, you’re up against quality. We have to accept that, both us and the fans. After the first leg, Braga have a slightly better starting position, but we are confident that we can turn the result around at home. Our focus is always on winning games, so there is no need to change our usual approach. It’s important to be patient. These are special circumstances, so we don’t need anything extra special in our approach. Everyone else is, of course, allowed to make as big a deal of the game as possible!”
Matthias Ginter, Freiburg defender: “Anyone who is in a semi-final naturally will do all they can to reach the final. For the people here at the club who have been here so long, the fans, everyone in the city – I simply want them to get that feeling of winning a title.”
Carlos Vicens, Braga coach: “Tomorrow’s game will have everything and we will need to show personality. The objective is to win the game. When we don’t have the ball, we will want to recover it quickly and when we can’t, we won’t allow opportunities for the opponents. All this is part of playing a Europa League semi-final and we will have to suffer. We know the difficulties we will face, but we will give our best.”
João Moutinho, Braga midfielder: “We have a big challenge ahead of us. We know they are tough opponents both away and at home. Their home record is impressive and we’re aware of that, but we’ve played in big environments before. We know the difficulties we will face, but we will try to impose our game.”
Reporter’s view
Judith Tuffentsammer, match reporter
Freiburg’s dream of a first European final is well and truly alive despite the first-leg defeat at Braga. They have been a force at home this season so far, winning all six matches while conceding only twice and scoring 14 goals, eight of them in the knockout stages. Braga, meanwhile, are just one step away from their second Europa League final and have everything in their own hands as they travel to Germany.
