AFCON 2025
The UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals delivered a thrilling night of football on Thursday, with Real Betis, Fiorentina, and Rapid Wien each securing important first-leg victories.
Betis impressed with a dominant display at home against Jagiellonia Białystok, while Fiorentina battled to a hard-fought win in Slovenia.
Meanwhile, Rapid Wien made the most of a defensive error to edge past Djurgårdens IF.
As the return legs loom, all three clubs have one foot in the semi-finals, but the tie is far from over.
Here’s a roundup of the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final first-leg matches played on Thursday.
Real Betis 2–0 Jagiellonia Białystok
Real Betis took a significant step toward their first-ever European semi-final with a commanding 2–0 win over Polish champions Jagiellonia at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Cédric Bakambu opened the scoring after a brilliant assist from Pablo Fornals, and Jesús Rodríguez doubled the lead with a goal validated by VAR.
Betis dominated the match, recording 27 shots and hitting the woodwork twice, showcasing their attacking prowess. Isco orchestrated the midfield with flair before being substituted in the second half.
Despite not extending their lead further, Betis’s solid performance puts them in a strong position for the return leg in Poland.
Fiorentina 2–1 NK Celje
Fiorentina secured a valuable away victory against Slovenian side NK Celje, winning 2–1. Ranieri opened the scoring with a solo effort, and Mandragora converted a penalty to double the lead.
Celje responded with a penalty goal by Delaurier-Chaubet, but Fiorentina’s goalkeeper, David De Gea, made several crucial saves, especially in the closing minutes, to preserve the win.
This result gives Fiorentina a slight edge heading into the second leg at home.
Rapid Wien 1–0 Djurgårdens IF
Rapid Wien edged past Swedish club Djurgårdens IF with a narrow 1–0 victory, courtesy of an own goal by Hampus Finndell.
The match was tightly contested, but Rapid’s defense held firm to maintain the clean sheet.
This win positions Rapid Wien favorably as they aim for their first European semi-final appearance since 1996.
