SC Freiburg advanced to the Europa League quarter‑finals after overturning a 0‑1 first‑leg loss with a decisive 5‑1 victory over KRC Genk. The Germans began the match with intensity, taking the early lead when Matthias Ginter headed a free‑kick from Vincenzo Grifo in the 19th minute. Just six minutes later, Igor Matanović doubled the advantage from a brief pass by Ginter. Genk cut the deficit to 2‑1 through Matte Smets before halftime, but Freiburg regrouped. In the 53rd minute, Grifo recovered a failed Belgian backpass and slid the ball past the keeper for a second goal. Three minutes later, Yuito Suzuki added a fourth after starting a counter‑attack himself and finishing calmly. Maximilian Eggestein sealed the win in the 79th minute with a 16‑meter shot into the left corner after a set‑piece from Suzuki. The Freiburg supporters in the Europa‑Park‑Stadium celebrated a team performance that was both cohesive and efficient, leaving Genk unable to withstand the relentless pressure in the second half.
Meanwhile, Mainz reached the Conference League quarter‑finals after beating Sigma Olomouc 2‑0. A goalless first leg had left the match level, but the Germans pushed early and forced the Czech team back into their own half. Stefan Posch capitalised on a crisp cross from Nebel in the 46th minute, heading the ball into the far corner to give the hosts an immediate edge. Mainz dominated the flow of play, preventing Olomouc from finding rhythm. In the 76th minute, Sigma’s Péter Baráth was sent off for a foul, giving Mainz the numerical advantage they exploited with Armindo Sieb’s finish in the 82nd minute. Sieb turned a short cross from da Costa from ten meters out into a clean goal, completing the 2‑0 win. Although Olomouc tried to shake things up, Mainz maintained defensive solidity and denied them meaningful chances. The Mainz faithful celebrated their club’s historic progression into the quarter‑final stage of an international competition, while Sigma Olomouc faced a home‑toured defeat without a goal.
