Braga 2-1 Freiburg Highlights, Europa League: Dorgeles Late Goal Clinches First-Leg Win For Arsenalistas

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Braga’s semi-final first leg tie against Freiburg. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: Braga vs Freiburg

• Series: UEFA Europa League 2025-26

• Venue: Estadio Municipal de Braga

• Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026

• Time: 12:30 AM IST (May 1)

• Live Streaming: SonyLIV

• Live Telecast: Sony TEN 1, 2, 3, 4 (SD & HD)

Starting XI: Lukas Hornicek; Victor Gomez, Vitor Carvalho, Paulo Oliviera, Gustaf Lagerbielke; Demir Ege Tiknaz, Joao Moutinho, Jean-Baptiste Gorby; Rodrigo Zalazar, Ricardo Horta (c), Pau Victor.

Bench: Tiago Sa (gk), Alaa Bellaarouch (gk), Jonatas Noro, Rodrigo Silva, Afonso Sousa, Leonardo Lelo, Mario Dorgeles, Yanis da Rocha, Joao Vasconcelos, Luis Pinto, Amine El Ouazzani, Fran Navarro.

Starting XI: Noah Atubolu; Philipp Treu, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, Jordy Makengo; Maximilian Eggestein, Johan Manzambi; Jan-Niklas Beste, Yuito Suzuki, Vincenzo Grifo (c); Igor Matanovic.

Bench: Florian Muller (gk), Jannik Huth (gk), Anthony Jung, Lukas Kubler, Christian Gunter, Bruno Ogbus, Cyriaque Irie, Nicolas Hofler, Rouven Tarnutzer, Derry Scherhant, Lucas Holer, Maximilian Philipp.

Tonight's match is the first-ever meeting between Braga and Freiburg.

It's an incredible atmosphere at Estadio Municipal de Braga, and the players come out of the tunnel and their positions on the pitch. Referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle, and Braga take the kick off to get the match underway.

A good move from Braga, and they almost catch the Freiburg players napping. Zalazar wins a free-kick on the left flank, and it's played quickly to Victor. However, the Spaniard's shot flies over the bar.

Demir Ege Tiknaz puts Braga ahead!! It's a fluent move from the hosts, but it's poor defending from Freiburg. Makengo fails to clear a cross from the left aimed towards the far post, and he heads it straight to Victor Gomez. His shot is directed goalwards by the sliding Tiknaz past the Atubolu.

Freiburg are trying to play out from the back, but Braga's incessant pressing is making it tough for the German side to progress even beyond their own penalty area.

Calamity at the back for Braga, and Freiburg equalise with lightning pace!! It's Grifo who finds the back of the net, but it's a brilliant counter-attack from the German side. The Arsenalistas lose the ball in their own half, and the referee plays an advantage after a foul by Gomez on Matanovic. Beste runs with the ball before laying it selflessly for Grifo to score, which he does.

Horta pulls something up and immediately grimaces in pain. The Braga captain is tended to by the physios, but looks like his night is over. It's a massive, massive blow for the hosts. Mario Dorgeles is ready to come on, but looks like Horta will try to soldier on for now. Nevermind, the changes does happen a minute later.

A positive move from Braga, with Moutinho playing the ball to Victor, who immediately tees it back to Dorgeles. The substitute, under immense pressure, tries to pull the tigger, but can't keep it on target.

Penalty for Braga!! Lienhart is a bit too strong on Lagerbielke's back during a corner. VAR asks Anthony Taylor to take a look at the incident on the monitor, and the English referee points to the spot.

Atubolu saves the penalty from Zalazar!! It's actually a brilliant save from the Nigerian, who dives to his right to keep out Zalazar's powerful effort. The deadlock remains intact!

What an end to the first half. Braga won a penalty after a soft foul by Lienhart, and Zalazar then failed to capitalise on the lifeline, with Atubolu making a brilliant save. The referee blows his whistle to bring the first half to an end, and we are all square in Portugal.

The players return to the pitch for the second half. No changes at the break for either side as far I can see. Freiburg take the kick off to get the second half underway.

A couple of moments of hold up in play due to... paper airplanes being thrown onto the pitch by Braga fans. The players clear them over the sidelines, and play resumes.

The first corner of the night is played short to Zalazar, who floats in a ball towards the far corner. Carvalho comes jumping, but collides with Grifo, with both players going down. Anthony Taylor awards a free-kick to Freiburg.

Another injury blue for Braga, and Gomez loses his footing and slips awkwardly, hurting his ankle in the process. The Spanish right-back will continue for now. Meanwhile, Eggestein's shot from the edge of the box brings out a save from Hornicek.

A poor tackle by Zalazar gives Freiburg a free-kick just outside the Braga penalty area. Grifo steps up to take the free-kick but hits it straight into the wall. A chance wasted by the former Italy international.

Makengo sees yellow for a late tackle on Moutinho. Meanwhile, Braga prepare the first change of the night, with Zalazar being brought off for Fran Navarro. Hopefully, this will inject some energy into the Braga side, who have been second best in the second half.

The ball finds Dorgeles on the left, but he doesn't have any support. Moutinho keeps the move alive for Braga, and the ball returns to Dorgeles at the other flank. He cuts inside on the left and let's fly from the edge of the box, but the wayward effort goes wide off the post.

Meanwhile, a double change for Freiburg, as Holer and Scherhant replace Suzuki and Grifo, respectively.

The fourth official holds up his board to indicate a minimum of two minutes to be added on at the end of regulation time. We are still all square in the first leg, although Braga are trying hard to find a goal that will give them something to defend at Germany next week.

Dorgeles puts Braga ahead with seconds remaining on the clock!! What a move from the Portuguese side, with Moutinho finding Gomez on the right. The Spaniard cuts it back for Carvalho, whose shot is inexplicably parried by Atubolu straight onto the path of Dorgeles, who finds the back of the net.

Anthony Taylor takes a look at his watch and blows the full time whistle! It's Braga who clinch the first leg in dramatic fashion, with 21-year-old Dorgeles becoming the hero with a late, late goal. The Portuguese side will take this slender lead to Germany for the second leg next week.