Freiburg reached a historic Europa League semi-final after a 3-1 win at Celta Vigo, sealing a 6-1 aggregate success. Julian Schuster’s team built on their convincing first-leg victory at Europa-Park-Stadion and controlled the second leg in Galicia. The visitors showed clinical finishing, while Celta Vigo struggled to turn pressure into meaningful chances.
This result sends Freiburg into the last four of a major European competition for the first time. They will face either Braga or Real Betis in the semi-finals. Before this season, Freiburg had never moved beyond the Europa League last 16, having fallen to Juventus in 2022-23 and West Ham in 2023-24.
The tie was effectively settled shortly after the half-hour mark on Thursday. Igor Matanovic struck
first, making it 4-0 on aggregate with a powerful volley from outside the box. Jordy Makengo headed the ball into Matanovic’s path, and although Makengo was flagged offside, VAR overturned the decision and confirmed the goal.
Freiburg doubled their lead on the night six minutes later, again exploiting space on the left. Yuito Suzuki finished calmly into the bottom-right corner after a sharp exchange with Niklas Beste. The move sliced through Celta Vigo’s defensive line and left goalkeeper Ionut Radu with little chance of stopping the low effort.
The Bundesliga side struck again five minutes after half-time, punishing Celta Vigo on the break. Makengo powered down the right flank, outmuscling Fer Lopez and rounding Radu, but failed to convert. Suzuki reacted quickest to the loose ball, tucking in the rebound for Freiburg’s third goal and Suzuki’s second of the evening.
Celta Vigo created opportunities but lacked precision in front of goal. Lopez and Jones El Abdellaoui both had chances to reduce the deficit during the second half. Their persistence was finally rewarded in stoppage time when Williot Swedberg slid in to score a consolation goal, though by then the outcome of the tie was already beyond doubt.
Freiburg Europa League run underlined by numbers and context
Match statistics highlighted Celta Vigo’s territorial control but also Freiburg’s efficiency. The hosts recorded 15 shots to Freiburg’s nine and posted a higher expected goals figure, 1.63xG compared to 1.07xG. Freiburg’s compact shape and fast counter-attacks, however, proved decisive over both legs of the quarter-final.
This victory also continued an unusual trend in European meetings between Spanish and German clubs. In the last 12 European fixtures where a Spanish team hosted a Bundesliga side, German teams have won only twice. Both successes have come this month, with Freiburg’s result following Bayern Munich’s Champions League win at Real Madrid, underlining a strong period for German clubs.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177657483686032717.webp)
