2025–26 UEFA Europa League Final: Aston Villa – Freiburg

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The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League Final is the decisive match of the 55th season of the UEFA Europa League, Europe’s second-largest club football competition. The match will be played on 20 May 2026 at 22:00 at the Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, home of Beşiktaş JK (formerly known as Beşiktaş Park). The final will feature England’s Premier League representative Aston Villa FC and Germany’s Bundesliga side Sport-Club Freiburg. Both clubs are reaching this stage for the first time in the tournament’s history; thus the 2025–26 season marks their inaugural Europa League final campaign. The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier.

The UEFA Europa League was first organized in 1955 as the UEFA Cup for Cities with Fairs and adopted the name UEFA Cup in the 1971–72 season. Since the 2009–10 season it has been known by its current name, the UEFA Europa League. The 2025–26 season is the 55th edition of the tournament, and the first champion under the original UEFA Cup name was English club Tottenham Hotspur.

The most successful club in the competition’s history is Spanish side Sevilla, with seven titles. Sevilla won the trophy in the 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20 and 2022–23 seasons. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur from England, Juventus and Inter from Italy, and Atlético Madrid from Spain follow with three titles each. The only Turkish club to have won the competition is Galatasaray, which triumphed in the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup season. Galatasaray defeated England’s Arsenal in the final held in Copenhagen, Denmark, winning 4–1 on penalties.

Since the 1971–72 season, the countries with the most final appearances are England and Spain, each having reached the final 19 times. Spanish clubs have won the trophy 14 times, while English clubs have claimed 10 titles. Italian clubs have reached the final 18 times and German clubs 16 times.

Clubs that have won the competition once include Galatasaray (Türkiye), Anderlecht (Belgium), Ajax (Netherlands), Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke 04, Bayern Munich (Germany), CSKA Moscow, Zenit (Russia), Napoli, Atalanta (Italy), PSV (Netherlands), Valencia, Villarreal (Spain), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Manchester United and Ipswich Town (England).

In the 2024–25 season, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 1–0 to win the trophy.

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With the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League Final, Istanbul will host its fifth UEFA final overall. Previous UEFA finals held in the city include the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final (Atatürk Olympic Stadium), the 2009 UEFA Cup Final (Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium), the 2019 UEFA Super Cup (Tüpraş Stadium), and the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final (Atatürk Olympic Stadium). Except for Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen in the 2009 UEFA Cup Final, all finals held in Istanbul have been won by English clubs.

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In the 2005 final, Liverpool overturned a 3–0 deficit from the first half to draw level in the second half and won 3–2 on penalties against AC Milan. In the 2009 UEFA Cup Final, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Werder Bremen 2–1. In the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool beat Chelsea 5–4 on penalties. In the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester City defeated Inter 1–0 to claim the title and completed a domestic treble by also winning the Premier League and the FA Cup that season.

Türkiye will also host the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final. Ankara and Istanbul are the two candidate cities for this event. If the 19 Mayıs Stadium under construction in Ankara is completed, the final will be held in the capital; otherwise it will take place at the Tüpraş Stadium. Additionally, Türkiye is one of the host nations for the jointly organized 2032 UEFA European Football Championship with Italy.

The Tüpraş Stadium, home of Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü, will host the final. With a capacity of approximately 43,000, the stadium previously hosted the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea on 14 August 2019. The Tüpraş Stadium will host its first-ever UEFA Europa League final with the 2025–26 match.

^{2025-26 UEFA Europa League Final: Aston Villa - Freiburg gala (TFF)}

Various events have been organized in Istanbul ahead of the final. Fans of Freiburg and Aston Villa gathered at the UEFA Fan Zone set up along Beşiktaş Barbaros Bulvarı, where visitors had the opportunity to take photographs with the UEFA Europa League trophy. A legends match featuring Hami Mandıralı, Cenk Gönen, Ahmet Dursun, Ogün Temizkanoğlu, Uğur İnceman and Fernando Llorente was also held at the event area.

A gala dinner was held at Çırağan Palace prior to the final match. According to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), attendees included Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, representatives from Freiburg and Aston Villa, and numerous prominent figures from the football community. Before the dinner, reciprocal gift exchanges took place between the TFF President, the UEFA President and representatives of the two clubs.

^{2025-26 UEFA Europa League Final: Aston Villa - Freiburg gala (TFF)}

Speaking at the gala dinner, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak highlighted Türkiye’s tradition of hosting high-level sporting events and confirmed that the country will also host the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final and the 2032 UEFA European Football Championship. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stated that Istanbul is not only a historic city but also a unique metropolis connecting two continents and deeply immersed in football culture. TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu emphasized Türkiye’s modernized sports infrastructure, recalling that the country previously hosted the 2005 and 2023 UEFA Champions League Finals, the 2009 UEFA Cup Final, the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2019 UEFA Super Cup.

Aston Villa FC, representing Birmingham, England, is a club with a history of two European trophies. In the 1981–82 season, the club achieved a major success by winning the European Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League). In the final held at the Feijenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, they defeated German side Bayern Munich 1–0 with a goal by Peter Withe. The same club also won the UEFA Super Cup in the 1982–83 season: after losing the first leg 1–0 to Spain’s Barcelona, they won the return leg 3–0. Aston Villa’s museum also holds the 2001–02 UEFA Intertoto Cup. The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League Final marks Aston Villa’s first European final in 44 years. It is known that Aston Villa has never previously reached a UEFA Europa League (or former UEFA Cup) final.

In the league phase of the tournament, Aston Villa played eight matches, recording seven wins and one defeat to accumulate 21 points. The club finished second in the league phase on goal difference behind Olympique Lyon, who also had 21 points. Aston Villa scored 14 goals and conceded six during the league phase.

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In the round of 16, Aston Villa faced French side Lille and won both legs to advance to the quarter-finals, defeating Lille 1–0 and 2–0. In the quarter-finals, they overcame Italian club Bologna with 3–1 and 4–0 victories to reach the semi-finals. In the first leg of the semi-final, Aston Villa lost 1–0 to English rivals Nottingham Forest but eliminated them 4–0 in the return leg to secure a place in the final. Throughout this season’s Europa League campaign, Aston Villa scored 28 goals and conceded eight. In the league phase, Aston Villa defeated Fenerbahçe 1–0 in Istanbul.

Aston Villa is managed by Spanish head coach Unai Emery. The 54-year-old Emery is regarded as one of the most successful coaches in UEFA Europa League history. He has won the trophy four times: three times with Sevilla (2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16) and once with Villarreal (2020–21). In the 2018–19 season, Emery lost the Europa League final with Arsenal. This will be his fifth final appearance in the competition. If he defeats Freiburg, Emery will secure his fifth UEFA Europa League title and set a new record for the most wins by a head coach in the tournament’s history.

According to current data from Transfermarkt^【1】, the total market value of Aston Villa’s UEFA-listed players is €492.5 million. The most valuable player in the squad is English midfielder Morgan Rogers, valued at €80 million. Other high-value players include Amadou Onana at €45 million, Ezri Konsa at €40 million, Youri Tielemans at €35 million, and Ian Maatsen and Ollie Watkins at €30 million each.

Sport-Club Freiburg, representing the city of Freiburg im Breisgau in southwestern Germany, has never previously reached a European final before the 2025–26 season. The club has never won the Bundesliga or the German Cup (DFB-Pokal). Freiburg has been promoted to the Bundesliga four times after winning the second division. In the German Cup, they lost the 2021–22 final to RB Leipzig on penalties. The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League Final is Freiburg’s first-ever European final.

In the league phase, Freiburg played eight matches, recording five wins, two draws and one defeat to accumulate 17 points, finishing seventh in the group. The German side scored 10 goals and conceded four during the league phase.

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In the round of 16, Freiburg faced Belgian side Genk. After losing the first leg 1–0, they defeated their opponent 5–1 in the home leg to advance. In the quarter-finals, they beat Spanish club Celta Vigo in both legs to reach the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Freiburg lost the first leg 2–1 to Portugal’s Braga but won the return leg 3–1 to qualify for the final for the first time in the club’s history. Throughout this season’s Europa League campaign, Freiburg scored 25 goals and conceded 10.

Freiburg is managed by 41-year-old German head coach Julian Schuster. This is Schuster’s first major final as a coach. A former player for the same club, Schuster is now leading the team he helped develop toward a historic achievement.

Speaking at the pre-final press conference at the Tüpraş Stadium, Schuster noted that Freiburg has endured difficult periods, including years in the second division, and that reaching a European final is a milestone. He emphasized that experience within the squad will be decisive, highlighting that some players have previously played in finals. Schuster acknowledged Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s head coach, as an experienced Europa League tactician but stated that his team aims to win within the 90 minutes rather than rely on penalties. He added that staying focused on their game plan is essential.

According to current data from Transfermarkt^【2】, the total market value of Freiburg’s UEFA-listed players is €191.375 million. The most valuable player is 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, with a market value of €35 million. The second most valuable player is goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, valued at €20 million.

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Aston Villa won the UEFA Europa League final 3-0 and have claimed the trophy. With this victory, Aston Villa have lifted their first European trophy in 44 years since winning the European Cup in the 1981-1982 season.

The refereeing team for the final was selected from France; François Letexier served as the main referee, with Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni as assistant referees.

The starting eleven and formations for both teams were as follows:

• Freiburg: Atubolu, Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Höfler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, Matanovic.
• Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne, Lindelöf, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.

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Among the spectators was Prince William of Wales, who watched the match from his designated private box.

In the opening minutes of the match, both teams displayed a controlled and cautious approach under the pressure and atmosphere of a final. The first dangerous attack came in the 3rd minute from Aston Villa, when Morgan Rogers received the ball in the opposition half and shot, but goalkeeper Atubolu denied the goal. In the 5th minute, Treu of Freiburg became the first player to receive a yellow card. In the following minutes, Buendia of Aston Villa was cautioned in the 16th minute and Cash in the 21st minute.

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In the 17th minute, Freiburg won a free kick near the Aston Villa penalty area. Höfler struck a powerful shot from just outside the penalty arc after the defense cleared the ball, but it went wide. In the 34th minute, Aston Villa lost possession while building from the back; Manzambi intercepted the ball and fired a shot from outside the box, which was saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The first goal of the match came in the 41st minute. From a corner kick delivered from the left flank, Morgan Rogers sent a cross into the penalty area, where Youri Tielemans met it with a precise strike to send the ball into the net and give Aston Villa a 1-0 lead. In the final moments of the first half, in the 45+3rd minute, Aston Villa doubled their advantage. Following a pass from John McGinn on the right flank, Emiliano Buendia collected the ball on the right diagonal outside the box and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net. The first half ended with Aston Villa leading 2-0.

Aston Villa continued their strong start in the second half. In the 58th minute, during a left-sided attack, Morgan Rogers touched Emiliano Buendia’s low cross into the six-yard box and fired it into the net to make the score 3-0.

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Following the deficit, Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster made his first substitutions in the 61st minute, bringing on Rosenfelder for Lienhart and Höler for Höfler. Aston Villa made their first change in the 66th minute, replacing Lindelöf with Onana. In the 70th minute, Onana headed a corner kick from John McGinn on the right flank, but the ball struck the post and bounced back into play.

In the 73rd minute, Freiburg replaced Kübler with Makengo and Grifo with Scherhant. In the 75th minute, Aston Villa came close to scoring again when Buendia received the ball on the left diagonal of the penalty area but fired wide. In the closing stages, both teams made multiple substitutions: in the 81st minute, Digne and Buendia were replaced by Maatsen and Jadon Sancho for Aston Villa. In the 86th minute, Günter came on for Beste for Freiburg, while McGinn of Aston Villa received a yellow card. In the 88th minute, Pau Torres and Tielemans were replaced by Mings and Luiz respectively for Aston Villa. The match ended 3-0 in favor of Aston Villa without further goals.

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Following the match, the “Man of the Match” award was given to Aston Villa’s Argentine forward Emiliano Buendia, who contributed one goal and one assist.

At the podium erected on the pitch of Tüpraş Stadium, the trophy was carried onto the stage by former Turkish national team and Beşiktaş player İlhan Mansız. Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, President of the Turkish Football Federation, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin congratulated the players of both teams during the medal ceremony. Aleksander Ceferin presented the medals to the players and handed the championship trophy to Aston Villa captain John McGinn. The English team lifted the trophy amid confetti and the playing of Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” celebrating their victory with the fans.

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This victory also set several organizational records and milestones:

• Aston Villa manager Unai Emery won his fifth UEFA Europa League title (previously three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal), becoming the most successful manager in the competition’s history and the first to win it with three different clubs.
• Aston Villa became the 31st different club and the sixth different English club to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League.
• English clubs reached their 20th Europa League final with this match, overtaking Spain’s record of 19 finals.
• Aston Villa scored a total of 31 goals during the tournament, becoming the top-scoring team of the season.
• In four of the five continental finals held in Istanbul, English clubs have been the winners.

Team captain John McGinn described this final as the proudest night of his career and expressed his joy at achieving the same success as teammates who had previously won the trophy. Manager Unai Emery emphasized that the triumph was the result of clearly defined club objectives and meticulously planned steps. Emery stated he did not feel like the “king of the tournament” and expressed gratitude to the clubs he previously managed and to his current players.

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Man of the Match Emiliano Buendia noted that the club has been competing on the European stage for three years and credited the consistent steps taken throughout the tournament for the championship. Regarding his goal, Buendia said they had practiced similar scenarios in training and emphasized that the cup victory belonged to every member of the team.

Youri Tielemans, who scored the opening goal, revealed that the team had only trained the free-kick routine the day before and said they had concluded the season perfectly. Another goalscorer, Morgan Rogers, stated that the championship was the result of hard work and expressed happiness at making history. Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins highlighted the positive impact of the fans’ atmosphere and confirmed that the team executed the game plan flawlessly. Defender Ezri Konsa, who spent seven years with Aston Villa before leaving the club, dedicated the trophy to the fans.

Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster said in his post-match assessment that his team competed as planned in the first half but conceded a goal just before halftime, which created a disadvantage. He noted that after the second goal, the team lost motivation and failed to find the crucial goal needed to stay in the match. Schuster stated they would learn from this defeat and thanked the fans who supported them in the stadium, emphasizing that the season had included a special European journey for the club.

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Freiburg captain Vincenzo Grifo acknowledged that Aston Villa displayed a more clinical and experienced performance throughout the match and openly accepted that the opponents deserved their victory. Freiburg player Igor Matanovic said the team performed well until the second goal but then made simple mistakes due to a loss of concentration.