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The first legs of the UEFA Europa League semifinals wrapped up on April 30, leaving Nottingham Forest and Braga with narrow advantages heading into next week’s decisive return fixtures.
In a matchup between two English sides, Nottingham Forest hosted Aston Villa and came away with a narrow 1-0 victory.
The game remained tightly contested through the first half, with neither side able to break the deadlock. After the restart, the hosts gradually pushed forward and eventually broke through in the 71st minute when Wood found the net, securing a crucial first-leg lead.
In Portugal, Braga and Freiburg played out a more eventful encounter that saw the home side claim a 2-1 win dramatically.
Braga got off to a fast start, going ahead early through Demir Ege Tiknaz in the eighth minute. Freiburg responded quickly, leveling the score in the 16th minute with a goal from Grifo.
As the first half drew to a close, Braga had a chance to retake the lead from the penalty spot, but Zalazar was unable to convert during stoppage time. Despite that setback, the Portuguese side kept pressing and eventually found a late winner, with Dorgeles scoring in added time to seal the victory.
With both semifinals still finely balanced, the return legs are scheduled for Thursday, May 7. These matches will determine which teams move on to the final of the UEFA Europa League.
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