Freiburg vs Aston Villa LIVE
Aston Villa have been crowned Europa League champions after stunning goals from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia helped them to a 3-0 victory over Freiburg. It has been 44 years since the Villans last won a European title, and the Europa League specialist Unai Emery has delivered the club back to the continent’s summit, also earning them a place in next season’s Champions League.
A nervy first half produced few chances before Tielemans struck a clinical volley across goal to open the scoring shortly before half-time, and Buendia doubled the advantage with an impressive curling effort in injury time. Morgan Rogers tapped home a third early in the second half to put the result out of reach for the Bundesliga contingent, who struggled to break their opposition down throughout.
With Arsenal and Crystal Palace still to contest European finals in the coming weeks, Villa’s win means there is still a chance for Premier League sides to complete a clean sweep of UEFA silverware. Catch up with the action as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis.
Freiburg vs Aston Villa latest news
- GOAL! Rogers adds a third
- GOAL! Buendia stunner doubles Villa lead
- GOAL! Tielemans breaks deadlock with super volley
FULL-TIME: Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
21:51 , Arthur Ferridge
ASTON VILLA WIN THE EUROPA LEAGUE!
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
21:51 , Arthur Ferridge
There will only be one added minute!
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
21:48 , Arthur Ferridge
88mins: Two more changes for Villa. Pau and Tielemans are replaced by Mings and Douglas Luiz.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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84mins: Martinez makes a really smart stop to deny a close-range Manzambi header, but the offside flag was up to strip any meaning from the moment. Impressive save regardless.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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81mins: More Villa changes as Buendia and Digne are replaced by ex-Chelsea pair Sancho and Maatsen.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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79mins: McGinn latches onto a loose ball in the area and hits it first-time, but the Freiburg keeper is denies him his goal.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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75mins: Aston Villa put together a superb team move which would have been the sweetest way to cap this brilliant performance, but Buendia puts the final finish into the side netting.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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70mins: Cash looks to get his name on the scoresheet, too, but sends one well over from distance.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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70mins: Onana is first to the corner and rattles the woodwork from a tight angle.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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68mins: Watkins is clearly keen for a goal. He breaks into the box again and has Buendia in space, but opts to go alone and can only win a corner.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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66mins: Changes for Villa now. Victor Lindelof comes off for Amadou Onana, who makes a long-awaited return from injury.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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65mins: Atubolu beats Watkins to another long-ball. This direct approach from Emery has worked wonders tonight.
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
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61mins: Well, this can go one of two ways now. Either Villa press on for a fourth and a record winning margin in a Europa League final, or Freiburg pull off a historic comeback. Place your bets...
Freiburg make a chance, with Holer replacing Hofler.
GOAL! Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa | Rogers '58
21:19 , Arthur Ferridge
Rogers sneaks in a third! Buendia plays a smart ball into Freiburg’s near post, where Rogers does brilliantly to lose his man and poke it home. Very well worked from Villa.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge
56mins: Manzambi’s long throw causes Villa some defensive consternation but after some six-yard box pinball they eventually clear their lines. Pau makes a smart tackle somewhere in the mix.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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54mins: Watkins lays out to get on the end of Tielemans’ cross but can’t quite reach it. It would have been a near-certain goal had he made contact.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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53mins: Villa are taking no risks, they’ve dropped into a more defensive shape here. Freiburg are really struggling to pick a way through.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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50mins: Watkins had a quiet first half but gets on the ball and drives at goal. He makes up a lot of ground but sees his effort blocked.
Villa come again through Buendia who looks to chip Atubolu, but the Freiburg keeper is wise to his tricks.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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48mins: A nervous moment as Martinez comes off his line to claim a ball over the top, just on the edge of his area. He gets there first and lets go before crossing the line. Heads up play from the Argentine.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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48mins: A no-nonsense tackle from Ginter halts a marauding run forward from Buendia.
Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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46mins: You get the impression that if Freiburg don’t score next here, it’ll be curtains on their fairytale European campaign.
The odds are not in their favour here, to say the least.
2ND HALF: Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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We’re back underway! Can Villa see this out?
First-half reflections
20:54 , Arthur Ferridge
Where to begin with that first half?
For its first 40 minutes, it was cagey and nervous, with little to separate the sides. If anything, the underdogs Freiburg had had the better of the chances.
But a pair of thunderbolts from Tielemans and Buendia in the dying moments of the opening stanza means the Villans are very much in the driving seat heading into this second-half.
As Villa have one hand on this famously heavy trophy, Freiburg have a mountain to climb.
HALF-TIME: Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa
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And that takes us to half-time! Game, set... match?
GOAL! Freiburg 0-2 Aston Villa | Buendia '45+3
20:50 , Arthur Ferridge
And Villa do capitalise, with another stunner! Buendia gets on the ball on the edge of the box and whips his shot into the far top corner. He telegraphs it shamelessly, but the technique is such that Atubolu cannot get anywhere near it.
Freiburg 0-1 Aston Villa
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45+2mins: Villa doing very well to keep the pressure up after going in front. Another goal before the break could just about kill this final off.
Freiburg 0-1 Aston Villa
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45+1mins: Cash’s corner bobbles through the box and Konsa meets it, but can’t quite get his shot on target. Another corner is awarded, though, and Villa try again, but this one comes to nought.
Freiburg 0-1 Aston Villa
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45mins: There will be three minutes added on as McGinn’s shot from Buendia’s cross is deflected behind for another corner.
Freiburg 0-1 Aston Villa
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44mins: That is just a stunning hit from Tielemans, and what a time to score it. Villa will look to crack on and twist the knife now.
GOAL! Freiburg 0-1 Aston Villa | Tielemans '41
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge
Tielemans - what a hit! The Aston Villa corner is taken short and crossed to the edge of the box where Tielemans is waiting in acres of space. He smacks it on the volley first time and it is in the back of the net before any red shirt can react.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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40mins: Digne’s cross is put behind for a corner. Big chance for Villa to open the scoring and settle their nerves here.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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39mins: Manzambi drives to the byline and flashes a nice cross over the six-yard box, but there is no Freiburg forward there to finish the move.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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37mins: Buendia’s block sets Villa on an opportunistic attack and McGinn is the man who ultimately gets the shot away, but it is blocked all too easily, as is Rogers’ rebound.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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34mins: Watkins dribbles at goal but cuts inside as he realises he is running out of room. He beats one man, then tries to beat two more but ultimately is dispossessed. McGinn makes his frustration with the striker plain.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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34mins: Manzambi sends an opportunistic if speculative shot towards Martinez’s goal, but it is a routine save for the World Cup winner.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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33mins: The cameras cut to Emery on the touchline, and he’s let his poker face slip somewhat. He looks far from impressed with this first-half showing.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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27mins: Cash makes a little foray forward and attempts another dinked cross to Rogers, but it doesn’t quite come off. The full-back is livening up a bit, and forcing Villa to liven up in doing so.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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28mins: Cash looks to loft a ball forward to Watkins, who gets around his man but can’t quite bring it under control.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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25mins: Freiburg have certainly had more of the ball over the last five minutes or so. There isn’t a massive amount of experience in this Villa team, at least in terms of playing cup finals and European finals, and you wonder if they’re struggling under the weight of the occasion a bit.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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23mins: And, now Grifo has had his treatment, we get back underway with a Freiburg free-kick.
Beste sends it well over the Villa box and they clear their lines through Digne.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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22mins: “You’re not fit to referee” sing the Villa support.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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21mins: Villa cop another booking as Cash goes in on Grifo but just catches him on the shin.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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17mins: CLOSE! Freiburg’s free-kick is nodded down by Pau for Hofler, whose shot is into the ground and bounces wide.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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15mins: Digne gets his head to the free-kick first, before Buendia fouls his man to give Freiburg another attempt at the setup. He is booked for his trouble.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge
14mins: Digne catches the tricky attacking midfielder Manzambi, and Freiburg set up a deep free-kick. They are in some senses the Arsenal of the Bundesliga, inasmuch as they score most of their goals from set-pieces. Let’s see how this one goes.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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11mins: Another Villa attack comes to an end as Buendia overcooks his cross. The team in white certainly starting to grow into this match, as expected.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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10mins: Rogers has a pop from range but his curled effort is narrowly wide of the far post. Not a bad attempt at all.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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8mins: Quite a bitty match so far as the referee has not been remotely whistle-shy. No sense of rhythm yet established due to a series of little fouls.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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6mins: An early booking for Treu as he fouls McGinn cynically to prevent the Scot breaking away on the counter.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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5mins: Lindelof is sitting up in midfield with Onana still on the bench. He reprises the role from the semi-final.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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3mins: Tielemans loses the ball in midfield to set Freiburg on the attack, but does well to track back and recover. The tackle sets Villa off on the counter and Rogers stings the palms of Atubolu.
Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
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1mins: A bit of a nervy start for Villa as they twice lose the ball in their defensive third and Matanovic heads over - the first shot of the evening.
KICK-OFF! Freiburg 0-0 Aston Villa
20:01 , Arthur Ferridge
The Europa League final is UNDERWAY!
Aston Villa, in their all-white change strip, get us underway.
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McGinn and Grifo exchange pennants, and the former looks to have won the toss.
Formalities are out of the way now - let’s play football!
Here we go!
19:56 , Arthur Ferridge
Freiburg and Aston Villa take to the pitch!
Emi Martinez walks out with the Villa team, suggesting that right hand problem was nothing severe.
Nearly time...
19:55 , Arthur Ferridge
The ‘opening ceremony’ is out of the way and the tropy has been delivered pitchside, meaning it will soon be time for the players to take to the pitch.
Kick-off is not far away at all!
Team news reminder
19:50 , Arthur Ferridge
With ten minutes until kick-off, a reminder of tonight’s lineups.
Freiburg XI: Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Hofler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, Matanovic
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Digne, Pau, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins
Regal presence
19:44 , Arthur Ferridge
I’m unsure if the Besiktas Stadium contains a royal box, but there will be blue blood in the stands tonight.
Prince William is a proud Aston Villa fan and has made the trip to Istanbul to support the side tonight.
Unai Emery on matchday prep
19:40 , Arthur Ferridge
“The feeling [in the squad] is very normal. Trying to analyse our performance, how we must try to get it today, analysing the opponent to compete, of course, respecting them a lot. Then focus. We want them to be focused completely with the game plan.”
Vincenzo Grifo
19:36 , Arthur Ferridge
Vicenzo Grifo comes into this tie as Freiburg’s top goalscorer in the Europa League.
He scored seven and assisted five in the Bundesliga this year, and has a further five goals and four assists on the continent.
Freiburg’s No32 will certainly be one to watch tonight.
Martinez latest
19:29 , Arthur Ferridge
Martinez has headed back into the changing rooms, but appeared to flash a ‘thumbs-up’ at the club physio.
A big day for Freiburg
19:28 , Arthur Ferridge
Freiburg tonight are contesting their first ever European final in 122 years of existence.
They were still playing in the German second tier just 10 years ago.
Martinez injury scare?
19:22 , Arthur Ferridge
Emi Martinez seems to have picked up a minor injury in warm-ups!
He is currently being checked out by the club’s physios.
Marco Bizot would be the most likely understudy called up if it Martinez is forced to drop out of the team.
McGinn on form
19:20 , Arthur Ferridge
John McGinn comes into this match in the form of his life.
He has six goal contributions in his last seven appearances for Aston Villa.
Emery expecting a challenge
19:12 , Arthur Ferridge
“[Freiburg are] very competitive. They have a coach who instils a lot of intensity, and they have experienced players.
“It’s a style of football that relies heavily on talent and character; both qualities combine to produce good players, young ones, like Freiburg have, and veterans.
“I played against Freiburg with Sevilla 12 years ago and two of their players from that game are still there: (Matthias) Ginter and (Christian) Günter.
“They’re having a very good season. Above all, they have a clear idea, a style that defines them very well.
“So, they are [in the final] because they deserve to be and because they are competing very well, because they have a great coach and because they have good players, and above all, a fantastic fanbase, and they are hungry.”
Recent Europa League champions
19:04 , Arthur Ferridge
2024/25: Tottenham Hotspur
2023/24: Atalanta
2022/23: Sevilla
2021/22: Eintracht Frankfurt
2020/21: Villarreal
Aston Villa team
18:56 , Arthur Ferridge
The Aston Villa starting XI is unchanged for the third match on the spin!
This squad beat Liverpool 4-2 at the weekend, and drew 2-2 with Burnley before that.
There is some good news, too, as Amadou Onana returns to the bench after recovering from a minor injury.
FREIBURG CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:48 , Arthur Ferridge
And here are tonight’s underdogs.
Freiburg XI: Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Hofler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, Matanovic
Subs: Muller, Huth, Jung, Osterhage, Scherhant, Holer, Irie, Philipp, Gunter, Makengo, Rosenfelder, Ogbus
ASTON VILLA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:46 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery names his side for the Europa League final.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Digne, Pau, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Onana, Bogarde, Bailey
Team news up next
18:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Lineups will be confirmed in five minutes!
Freiburg route to the final
18:35 , Arthur Ferridge
League phase:
2-1 W vs Basel
1-1 D vs Bologna
2-0 W vs Utrecht
3-1 W vs Nice
0-0 D vs Viktoria Plzen
1-0 W vs RB Salzburg
1-0 W vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
0-1 L vs Lille
Ro16: 5-2 agg W vs Genk
QF: 6-1 agg W vs Celta Vigo
SF: 4-3 agg W vs Braga
Match odds
18:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Freiburg to win: 12/5
Aston Villa to win: 2/7
Via Boyle Sports (Subject to change)
Aston Villa route to the final
18:25 , Arthur Ferridge
League phase:
1-0 W vs Bologna
2-0 W vs Feyenoord
1-2 L vs Go Ahead Eagles
2-0 W vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
2-1 W vs Young Boys
2-1 W vs Basel
1-0 W vs Fenerbahce
3-2 W vs RB Salzburg
Ro16: 3-0 agg W vs Lille
QF: 7-1 agg W vs Bologna
SF: 4-1 agg W vs Nottingham Forest
Unai Emery: Europa League specialist
18:20 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery has won this competition four times, more than any other coach, and can clinch a fifth title tonight.
He won it three seasons on the spin with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016, and again with Villarreal in 2021.
He will hope to end his five-year drought in the competition tonight.
Standard Sport prediction
18:10 , Arthur Ferridge
Aston Villa come into this match on soaring form, with last week’s rip-roaring dismantling of Liverpool fresh in the memory.
That match serves as evidence of their potential, and shows exactly how good they can be.
If they can do that to the Premier League champions, Freiburg will be very, very worried.
Aston Villa to win, 3-0.
Freiburg early team news
18:00 , Arthur Ferridge
Centre-back Matthias Ginter suffered an injury ahead of this match and it remains unclear if he will be involved today.
Midfielder Yuito Suzuki will definitely be absent with a fractured collarbone.
Aston Villa early team news
17:50 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery will be without three players here.
Boubacar Kamara is out with a knee injury, while Alysson misses out with a groin problem.
Amadou Onana is a doubt, though, as he looks to shake off a calf problem. He will face a late fitness test.
How to watch
17:40 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 6pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Good evening
17:31 , Arthur Ferridge
Hello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Freiburg vs Aston Villa in the Europa League final!
Unai Emery is already the winningest manager in this competition’s history. Can he clinch a fifth title tonight?
All will be revealed! Stick with us for all the latest from Istanbul. Kick-off is at 8pm BST.
