Berlin, 17 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - A stunning volley from Igor Matanović and Yuito Suzuki's double marked Freiburg's surge into the Europa League semi-finals after the Germans defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 away and 6-1 on aggregate on Thursday.

The Black Forest outfit were 3-0 up from last week's home leg but still went on the offensive in the quarter-final second leg in north-west Spain.

Freiburg coach Julian Schuster told UEFA: "I think over both matches it was a fantastic performance. We built on what we did last week. It wasn’t easy to play here, so it’s really special that we’ve reached the next round."

The Germans easily sealed a semi-final meeting Portugal's Braga, who stunned Real Betis by coming back from 2-0 down to win 4-2 on the night in Seville and 5-3 overall.

There will be an-all English semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on April 30 and May 7.

Anderson tribute

A goal from Morgan Gibbs-White sent Forest to the last four following a 1-0 win over Porto at the City Ground for a 2-1 aggregate progression.

While celebrating, the scorer held up a shirt of absent England midfielder Elliot Anderson, who missed the game due to his mother's death.

Twice champions Porto were hamstrung by Jan Bednarek receiving an early red card for a studs-up tackle on the knee of Chris Wood, who could not continue.

England World Cup hopeful Ollie Watkins sent Villa on their way to a 4-0 cruise over Bologna in Birmingham to go with their 3-1 triumph in Italy last Thursday.

Fantastic Freiburg

Celta fans initially created a febrile atmosphere inside the three-sided Estadio Balaidos, but around 1,200 Freiburg supporters also made themselves heard in the early kick-off.

The away section had even more to cheer when Croatia striker Matanović superbly latched on to Jordy Makengo's knock-down from 20 metres on 35 minutes. A rogue offside flag delayed the celebrations.

Japan's Suzuki soon made it 2-0 in the Galician sunshine and added another after the interval. Williot Swedberg's goal in stoppage time for Celta meant little.

Freiburg, who went with the same team from the first leg, have never been this far before in European competition and fans will now be dreaming of overall glory in Istanbul on May 20. They have never won a major trophy.

Celta were contesting their fifth UEFA Cup/Europa League quarter-final but have only ever made one last-four appearance.

Winning the Europa League offers a spot in the Champions League, a feat Freiburg - eighth domestically - have never managed. Their success over Celta also helps in Germany's bid to snatch a fifth Champions League berth next season from Spain.

Celta are sixth in LaLiga.

Coach Claudio Giraldez said: "Reaching the quarter-finals is an achievement, and the frustration we feel now will drive us to come back stronger next year. Credit to Freiburg, who were the better and more deserving side."

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