Real Betis and Braga drew 1-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal on April 16, 2026. The match took place at Estadio La Cartuja.
Real Betis currently sits fifth in La Liga, while Braga ranks fourth in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. Both teams are competitive, but their recent performances show contrasting trends.
Real Betis has gone unbeaten in five home matches in this season’s Europa League. They have won their last four home matches in the tournament. This strong form gives them confidence heading into the next leg.
Braga, on the other hand, has lost just one of its last 18 Europa League matches. However, they have struggled historically in major European knockout rounds—losing nine of their last 11 such matches.
This matchup marks only Braga’s fourth appearance in a major European quarter-final, all occurring in the UEFA Europa League. Real Betis aims to reach the semi-finals of a major European competition for a second consecutive season.
Florian Grillitsch has been a standout player for Braga, involved in three goals across his last two UEFA Europa League appearances. His performance will be crucial as both teams prepare for the return leg.
Yet, despite their strong records, both teams face pressure as they seek advancement. Real Betis has only reached this stage twice before in their history prior to 2024-25. They know how significant this opportunity is.
The first leg ended with a scoreline of 1-1, leaving everything to play for in the second leg. Fans will expect an intense matchup as both clubs vie for a spot in the semi-finals.
Details remain unconfirmed about any potential injuries or lineup changes ahead of the return fixture. The second leg promises to be an exciting conclusion to this tightly contested quarter-final.
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