Former Manchester United winger Antony could not hold back his tears following the final whistle at the Estadio de La Cartuja. Despite a blistering start from the Brazilian, Real Betis suffered a devastating 4-2 defeat (5-3 on aggregate) to Braga, crashing out of the Europa League quarter-finals in heartbreaking fashion.
A Dream Start Turns into a Nightmare
The night began perfectly for the Spanish side. Backed by a roaring home crowd, Real Betis launched a fierce attacking assault right from the kickoff. Their relentless pressure paid off instantly, with Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli both finding the back of the net within the first 25 minutes.
Leading 2-0 on the night, Betis looked firmly in control and seemed destined for the semi-finals. Antony was playing with immense confidence and even had a third goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. However, the momentum violently shifted just before the halftime whistle.
A disastrous miscommunication between Betis defenders Marc Bartra and Diego Llorente allowed former Barcelona striker Pau Victor to pull a goal back for Braga. That defensive error proved to be the turning point of the tie.
Braga’s Sensational Second-Half Comeback
If the end of the first half was sloppy from Betis, the second half was an absolute collapse. Immediately after the restart, Vitor Carvalho headed home to level the score at 2-2.
The nightmare continued for the hosts in the 53rd minute when Sofyan Amrabat conceded a penalty. Braga captain Ricardo Horta stepped up and calmly slotted away his 20th goal of the season to give the Portuguese side a 3-2 lead.
Any remaining hope for Real Betis was completely extinguished in the 75th minute when Jean-Baptiste Gorby unleashed a thunderous strike to seal a historic 4-2 victory for Braga.
What’s Next for Betis and Braga?
The result marks a monumental achievement for Braga, who have now reached the Europa League semi-finals for the first time since 2011. Carlos Vicens’ side will now prepare to face Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg in the next round.
For Antony and Real Betis, the devastating defeat practically ends their season. With the team currently sitting 11 points adrift of the top four in La Liga, their hopes of qualifying for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League are now all but mathematically over.
