Real Betis showed their resilience on the European stage, battling back to secure a valuable 1-1 draw away to Braga in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. The result sets up a finely balanced return leg in Seville next week.

Braga seized an early advantage in front of their home crowd, with Florian Grillitsch scoring a clever fifth-minute opener. The Austrian midfielder met a low corner at the near post with a deft backheel that left Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez with no chance. The hosts' lead was under constant threat, however, as Braga's Lukas Hornicek was forced into a series of excellent first-half saves to keep Betis at bay.

The Spanish side's pressure finally told just after the hour mark. A foul on Abde Ezzalzouli in the box gave Betis a penalty, which was coolly converted by Cucho Hernandez, sending Hornicek the wrong way. The goal was a just reward for Betis's persistence and showcased the clinical edge needed in knockout football.

This tie is a classic European clash between two sides known for their fighting spirit, with both having staged dramatic comebacks in the previous round. The stage is now perfectly set for a thrilling second leg, where Betis will look to use their home support to secure a semi-final berth.

Meanwhile, the Europa League quarter-finals continue Thursday with other intriguing matchups, including Nottingham Forest's challenging trip to face Portuguese giants Porto.