Celta 1-3 Freiburg: Visitors ease into semi-finals with dominant victory

Yuito Suzuki scored twice and Igor Matanović hit a superb volley as Freiburg outclassed Celta.

Match Report:

Freiburg became the first team into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals after comfortably beating Celta 3-1 in Vigo to seal a 6-1 aggregate victory.

It was always going to be an uphill task for the hosts following Freiburg's dominant display in the first leg last week, and despite a fervent atmosphere of expectation at kick-off they were unable to get themselves back in the tie.

Following a quiet opening half-an-hour, Igor Matanović dashed any hopes of a Celta comeback with a moment of magic, latching onto Jordy Makengo's header and striking a sublime left-footed volley from outside the box into the top-left corner.

Just six minutes later Freiburg's progress was all but sealed as attacking midfielder Yuito Suzuki finished off a fine team move from Jan-Niklas Beste's cutback.

Celta coach Claudio Giráldez made four substitutions at the break as a final roll of the dice, but it was the visitors who added a third in the 52nd minute, Suzuki getting his second by stroking in after Johan Manzambi had been denied.

Substitute Derry Scherhant came agonisingly close to a fourth for his team after a bending effort hit the right-hand post, while Celta's Ferran Jutglà was denied a consolation as his header bounced off the woodwork.

There was just enough time for Williot Swedberg to tuck in a fine finish with the last kick off the game to give the home fans something to cheer about, but it is impressive Freiburg who will now face Braga as they can look forward to a first-ever UEFA competition semi-finals.

Key stats

• Celta have now lost their last five European games against German teams.

• This was just their third defeat in their last ten home matches in UEFA competition (W6 D1).

• Freiburg have become the 18th different German club to reach the UEFA Cup/Europa League semi-finals. That is five more than any other nation, with England and Italy next on 13.

• Julian Schuster's side have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA competition matches (W8 D2).

• Freiburg have scored three or more goals in their last three Europa League games, notching a total of 11.

Match Events

1' Match Event for Celta vs Freiburg

32' GOAL! Celta 0-1 Freiburg

39' GOAL! Celta 0-2 Freiburg (Yuito Suzuki)

51' GOAL! Celta 0-3 Freiburg

68' Match Event for Celta vs Freiburg

73' Match Event for Celta vs Freiburg

88' Highlight from Celta vs Freiburg

Line-ups

Celta XI: Vecino, Alonso, Iglesias, Radu, Óscar Mingueza, Ferran Jutglà, Ilaix Moriba, Javier Rueda, Yoel Lago, Javi Rodríguez, Fer López

Subs: Aspas, Villar, Mihailo Ristic, Aidoo, Carreira, Álvaro Núñez, Manu Fernández, Williot Swedberg, Hugo Sotelo, Hugo Álvarez, Jones El-Abdellaoui, Pablo Durán

Freiburg XI: Ginter, V. Grifo, Lienhart, Eggestein, J. Beste, Noah Atubolu, Philipp Treu, Jordy Makengo, Yuito Suzuki, Igor Matanovic, Johan Manzambi

Subs: Höfler, Kübler, Anthony Jung, Philipp, Günter, Jannik Huth, Lucas Höler, Florian Müller, Derry Scherhant, Cyriaque Irié, Bruno Ogbus, Karl Steinmann