In a historic night for the club, SC Freiburg has advanced to their first European final after a remarkable turnaround against Braga in the UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Freiburg sealed their place in the final, scheduled for Istanbul on May 20, with a convincing 3-1 victory at the Europa-Park Stadion, overturning a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Lukas Kubler played a pivotal role, scoring twice to propel his team into uncharted territory.
Things took a dramatic turn early in the match as Braga’s Mario Dorgeles received a red card just seven minutes in, marking the fastest expulsion in a Europa League semi-final. Freiburg capitalized on their numerical advantage, demonstrating both resilience and skill to claim a historic victory.
This landmark achievement makes Freiburg the first German team to recover from a first-leg deficit in a European semi-final since Werder Bremen in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup. They will face Aston Villa in the final, with European glory and a potential Champions League spot at stake.
Matthias Ginter expressed his team’s fervor ahead of the final, stating, “We just need to take that final step now. We’ve come this far, we’re now facing the most important match in the club’s history, and we’re determined to win it. For Freiburg, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The whole day, the atmosphere… it was incredible.”
2026 UEFA Europa League final #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/YqT8jxLuTm
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 7, 2026
Head coach Julian Schuster was visibly emotional after the match, reflecting on the monumental achievement. “I feel an incredible sense of joy when I look at everyone’s faces. That’s what matters most today,” he shared. “I believe the most important thing is to know who you are. That’s what sets the people here in the region apart – they know what moments like this mean.”
Freiburg’s impressive home performance continues, with the team winning 11 straight games at Europa Park in the tournament, equaling a record previously set by Sevilla. The Opta supercomputer currently gives the team a 35% chance of winning the final, while Aston Villa holds a 65% probability.
