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Freiburg sink Celta to clinch first appearance in Europa League semis / Photo: © AFP
Freiburg sink Celta to clinch first appearance in Europa League semis
Freiburg made history as they swept into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time with a 3-1 win against Celta Vigo on Thursday.
Julian Schuster's side already had one foot in their first ever European semi-final after a 3-0 victory in the quarter-final first leg in Germany last week.
They finished the job in Vigo, winning 6-1 on aggregate thanks to Igor Matanovic's opener and Yuito Suzuki's double.
In the semi-finals, Freiburg will play Real Betis or Sporting Braga, who are level at 1-1 ahead of their showdown in Spain later on Thursday.
Having already made history by reaching the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time this season, Freiburg can now set their sights on a maiden final.
They have built their Europa League campaign on defensive solidity, conceding just seven goals in 12 matches, but it was their ruthless attack that made the difference in the second leg.
Freiburg killed off any hopes of a Celta fightback with two goals in the space of six minutes in the first half.
Matthias Ginter picked out Jordy Makengo's run and he nodded back to Matanovic, who lashed a superb volley into the top corner in the 33rd minute.
Suzuki doubled the lead in the 39th minute, playing a one-two with Jan-Niklas Beste before converting the return pass with a composed finish.
The Japan midfielder struck again after 51 minutes, netting from close range from Vincenzo Grifo's pass after Johan Manzambi slalomed through the Celta defence.
Williot Swedberg's stoppage-time strike was no consolation for out-classed Celta.
In Thursday's other quarter-finals, Aston Villa, leading 3-1 on aggregate, host Italian side Bologna.
Villa boss Unai Emery has won the Europa League four times -- on three occasions with Sevilla and once at Villarreal -- and also finished as a runner-up in the tournament with Arsenal.
Villa are looking to reach a second European semi-final under Emery after making the last four in the Conference League in 2024.
Nottingham Forest face Porto at the City Ground with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg. Two-time European champions Forest are aiming to appear in their first continental semi-final since the UEFA Cup in 1983-84.
They are playing in Europe for the first time since the 1995-96 UEFA Cup.
M. Andrade--JDB
