Sporting Braga denied Benfica a Europa League clash with traditional rivals Porto on Thursday, defeating the Lisbon side 1-0 to reach their first ever European final.
Portuguese leader FC Porto crushed Villareal 5-1 on Thursday and is looking to validate their ticket to the Europa League final. Elsewhere, in an all-Portuguese affair, Benfica won 2-1 against Braga.
Spanish side Villareal will be the only non-Portuguese to compete for a ticket to the Europa League final on Thursday as they meet FC Porto in the semis. Elsewhere, Benfica will host Braga to compensate for a frustrating season.
Clashes between Spanish and Italian clubs was a theme of the Champions League draw on Thursday night and it continued on Friday, with the Europa League draw. The clash between Villareal and Lazio will be one of the highlights of the group stage.
Barcelona could have been Spanish champion at Camp Nou but they let a 3-1 lead slip against Villareal. The game ended 3-3 and the Champion's League finalist are 8 points ahead of Real Madrid with three games left to play.
It will be an all-English Champions League semi-final: Arsenal eased past Villareal (3-0) and will face Manchester United, who defeated Porto (1-0) thanks to a Ronaldo screamer. Barcelona are the only non-English side still in the running.
Villareal 
