Unai Emery Wins Fifth Europa League as Villa Thrash Freiburg

Aston Villa win Europa League final against Freiburg  

Aston Villa produced a clinical display to beat Freiburg 3-0, with goals from Rogers, Buendía and Tielemans delivering the club’s first major trophy in three decades.

Goals from Tielemans, Buendía and Rogers sealed a dominant win for Aston Villa over Freiburg in the Europa League final, securing the club’s first major trophy since 1995...

Thirty years after their last major trophy, Aston Villa secured European silverware with a commanding 3-0 win over SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final at Besiktas Park. The victory also extended Freiburg’s wait for a first major honour in the club’s history.  

Wearing an all-white kit to honour the 1982 European Cup-winning side, Villa tested Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu within two minutes. Morgan Rogers forced an early save with a powerful strike, giving Freiburg a tough opening in their first ever European final.

Nicolas Hofler had Freiburg’s best chance of the early period, but he dragged his left-footed shot wide of Emiliano Martinez’s goal.  

Aston Villa win their first Europa League title 👏#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/h2nvWkDXhr

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 20, 2026

As halftime approached, Villa asserted control and scored twice in seven minutes. The opener came from a rehearsed corner routine that worked exactly as planned on the training ground.

Rogers took a short corner while Villa players blocked their markers in the box, creating space for Youri Tielemans. He met the floated cross with a perfectly struck low volley that beat Atubolu.

Aston Villa, this is your moment 🏆#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/04iU3brPI4

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 20, 2026

Tielemans’ finish was soon overshadowed by Emiliano Buendía’s stunning strike in first-half stoppage time. He turned quickly on the edge of the area and curled a powerful shot into the far corner, sending the Villa end into celebration.

If Freiburg still held onto hope before halftime, it was gone when Rogers made it 3-0 just before the hour mark. He slipped past his marker and poked home Buendía’s low cross to extend Villa’s lead.

Rogers’ third goal of the Europa League campaign prompted Julian Schuster to make a double substitution, but the change came too late. Villa continued to threaten a fourth through Buendía and then John McGinn.

 

Your 2026 Europa League champions, Aston Villa! 🏆🦁#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/mXBT93F3Bh

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 20, 2026

Freiburg managed to prevent further damage, but it did little to dampen the mood among the Villa supporters. They celebrated adding major silverware to their top-five Premier League finish, giving Unai Emery his fifth Europa League title.