Strasbourg staged a stunning comeback to soar into the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals, overturning a two-goal deficit with a dominant 4-0 victory over Mainz at their unique Stade de La Meinau, famously constructed from aircraft parts. The 4-2 aggregate triumph marks a historic first European semi-final for the club, with manager Gary O'Neil hailing a "memorable night" for his incredible players.

Shakhtar Donetsk also booked their semi-final spot, demonstrating remarkable resilience amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A hard-fought 2-2 draw away at AZ Alkmaar secured a comfortable 5-2 aggregate victory for the 2009 UEFA Cup winners, setting up a thrilling clash with Crystal Palace.

The English side, fresh off their FA Cup triumph last season, reached their first-ever European semi-final despite a 2-1 defeat in Florence, progressing 4-2 on aggregate. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson expressed the squad's ambition, stating they hope to "deliver something really special" in the next round.

Completing the final four is Rayo Vallecano, who survived a scare in Athens. A 3-1 loss to AEK was enough to see the Spanish side through 4-3 on aggregate, where they will now face Strasbourg over two legs for a place in the final.

The night's drama was centered in Strasbourg, where Mainz's 2-0 first-leg advantage evaporated quickly. Goals from Sebastian Nanasi and Abdoul Ouattara leveled the tie by halftime. Despite Emmanuel Emegha missing a penalty, strikes from Julio Enciso and a redeeming goal from Emegha sealed a famous victory, ending Mainz's European dream and sparking confrontations at the final whistle.

For Mainz, a club with a rich coaching heritage including Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, the defeat halts a remarkable turnaround under manager Urs Fischer, who took over with the team bottom of the Bundesliga in December. While their European journey ends, their fight for top-flight safety continues, leaving fans with a bittersweet but unforgettable campaign.