SC Freiburg qualified for the Europa League quarter‑finals after a dramatic 5‑1 home victory over KRC Genk. The win came after a 0‑1 loss in the first‑leg away fixture. From the opening whistle Freiburg showed commanding form, taking the lead early. In the 19th minute Matthias Ginter headed in a free‑kick from Vincenzo Grifo, and six minutes later Igor Matanović pushed the advantage to 2‑0 with a finish from a Ginter assist. Genk got a consolation goal in the 39th minute when Matte Smets cut the deficit to one, but the Dutch side remained resolute. Grifo restored the two‑goal cushion in the 53rd minute by converting a failed Belgian back‑pass, and Yuito Suzuki added a third just before the break after a quick counter‑attack. After a brief lull, Maximilian Eggestein sealed the scoreline in the 79th minute with a left‑corner from 16 meters following Suzuki’s pass. The home fans at the Europa‑Park‑Stadion cheered a team that combined solid collective play with efficient finishing, while Genk could not find a way to withstand the hosts’ pressure and ultimately succumbed.
In the Conference League quarter‑final, Mainz faced Sigma Olomouc, winning 2‑0 in the home match following a goalless first leg. Mainz imposed themselves early, pressing the Czech side into a defensive posture. Stefan Posch opened the scoring in the 46th minute by connecting a corner from Nebel with a header into the long corner. The German side then controlled the tempo, limiting opportunities for Olomouc. In the 76th minute, Sigma’s Péter Baráth was sent off for foul play, reducing the opposition to ten men. Mainz capitalised on the numerical advantage and pushed the lead to 2‑0 in the 82nd minute when Armindo Sieb finished a low cross from da Costa from ten metres into the long corner. Despite some late attempts by Sigma, Mainz remained defensively solid and denied any significant chances. The win secured Mainz’s historic progression into the international quarter‑final stage, while Sigma Olomouc had to leave the arena without a goal.