Historic Final in Istanbul: Aston Villa Look to End 44-Year European Drought Against Freiburg

The champion of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League will be decided tonight at Beşiktaş Park (Tüpraş Stadyumu). Aston Villa and SC Freiburg will face off in Istanbul at 22:00 local time in one of the most pivotal matches of their respective histories.

For Birmingham side Aston Villa, this is their first UEFA final since lifting the European Cup in 1982 — an opportunity to end a 44-year continental drought. The picture is different for manager Unai Emery: the Spaniard has won this competition three times with Sevilla (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16) and once with Villarreal (2020/21), while losing the 2018/19 final with Arsenal. He now has the chance to cement his status as the most successful manager in Europa League history.

Freiburg's story is a different one: the Bundesliga side are contesting the first European final in their club's history. Under young head coach Julian Schuster, the Breisgau-Brasilianer reached the showpiece by eliminating Braga in the semi-finals (1-2 first leg, 3-1 second leg). Their star man is 33-year-old Vincenzo Grifo, the all-time top scorer at the club and the highest-scoring Italian in Bundesliga history, who has notched 5 goals in 14 Europa League appearances this season.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, dismantled Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals. After a 1-0 first-leg defeat, the Villans roared back with a 4-0 demolition at Villa Park to seal their spot. They have won 10 of their last 11 Europa League matches. Emery's expected starting eleven features established names such as Emi Martínez, Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Buendia.

The two clubs are meeting for the first time in their history in a competitive fixture. The winner will earn direct qualification to the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. Istanbul is hosting its second major European final at Beşiktaş Park, following the 2019 UEFA Super Cup.