VILLA DOMINATE FREIBURG IN ISTANBUL TO MAKE HISTORY
Aston Villa ended a 30-year major trophy drought in swaggering style as sublime strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia lit up a UEFA Europa League final masterclass against Freiburg.
Tielemans guided home an exquisite volley before Buendia curled in a stunning curler at the end of the first half. Morgan Rogers put the result beyond doubt after the break.
It meant Villa’s long wait for silverware came to an emphatic end as they won their first European trophy in 44 years - the European Cup in 1982 was their last success on the continent - and their first Europa League title.
Head coach Unai Emery was again the architect of success in a competition he has dominated, claiming his fifth Europa League crown with a third club after three triumphs at Sevilla and one at Villarreal.
A nervy opening half-hour was littered with yellow cards and petty fouls, with few chances of note, but the game exploded into life with two moments of class in the final five minutes before the break.
Highlights: Villa claim Europa League crown to create new chapter in club’s history
Video credit: TNT Sports
A corner routine was perfectly worked as Tielemans guided a hanging cross into the bottom corner on the volley, before Buendia unleashed an unstoppable finish into the top corner from the edge of the area in first-half stoppage time.
Freiburg - competing in a maiden European final and chasing their first major honour - needed a response after the break, but continued to offer little in attack, and their resistance was shattered when Buendia’s low cross was tucked in by Rogers before the hour mark.
The contest was all but over from then on, with Andre Onana coming closest to a fourth goal after coming off the bench to hit the post with a header from a tight angle as the minutes ticked down towards a claret-and-blue party.
Captain John McGinn lifted the trophy into the Istanbul sky to the elation of the travelling Villa fans, including Prince William, as the Birmingham club ended their long wait for a trophy and guaranteed themselves Champions League football for next season in the process.
Emery swarmed by adoring Villa players on way to collecting medal
Video credit: TNT Sports
23:25
23:25
VILLA PLAYER RATINGS
Buendia the brilliant? Red-hot Rogers? Who caught the eye in Istanbul?
Ibrahim Mustapha delivers his player ratings from Bestikas Park after a historic night for Villa.
'Into the net like a rocket' - Tielemans gives Villa lead with 'sensational' volley
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bend it like Buendia! Watch as midfielder curls in STUNNER to double Villa’s lead
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'Surely that's the Europa League' - Rogers strike puts Villa in total control of final
Video credit: TNT Sports
23:13
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WATCH: MCGINN REFLECTS ON CAREER HIGH
The Villa captain is one of the most beloved figures at the club and gave a typically open and honest interview to TNT Sports, reflecting on a journey that started eight years ago for him while Villa were in the Championship.
Super John McGinn! Villa captain’s must-watch interview after lifting Europa League trophy
Video credit: TNT Sports
23:06
23:06
WHERE DOES EMERY RANK AMONG PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS?
Would Emery be the best manager in the Premier League if Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City?
Owen Hargreaves thinks he just might be...
Emery labelled 'best manager in the Premier League' if Guardiola leaves
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23:03
23:03
WATCH: ROGERS AND WATKINS REACT TO UEL TRIUMPH
'We all delivered' - Rogers and Watkins react to Europa League triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports
22:59
22:59
EMERY: WE MUST BE DEMANDING
"The club is working to extend the stadium 10,000 people more. We are changing a little bit the training centre," Emery told TNT Sports.
"We are trying to be demanding inside. Playing in Europe, Conference League, Champions League, Europa League... next year we're going to play again in Champions League.
"It make sense how we're getting this development with the players, extending their contracts.
"But it's important we must be so, so demanding in our process, in our project.
"The project can only make sense if we are winning, if we are getting our objectives during this process."
22:57
22:57
EMERY: UEL TITLE 'CONFIRMATION OF HOW WE ARE PROGRESSING'
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to TNT Sports after sealing his remarkable FIFTH Europa League trophy.
"It's really something fantastic," Emery said. "Europe gave us a lot, and for myself as well a lot. And I'm always very grateful for Europe. For every competition: Conference League, Champions League, Europa League... but especially Europa League.
"I'm thankful for the clubs I worked at because they showed the way. The support I had in Spain with Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal and here with Aston Villa and, of course, the players. It's important how everybody got strongly this competition.
"We played in a very serious way this year. So, so focused. And the players showed their wishes. I was telling them, 'we need wishes, we need desire in this competition and to show on the pitch that you are the protagonist'. And they did it."
"Some have won titles as well. Some it's the first title. This final is the confirmation of how we are progressing.
"It's very important for them [the players] and of course for the supporters because the supporters were travelling with us all the season, travelling away, doing a huge effort to be with us, transmitting to us their energy."
Image credit: Getty Images
22:55
22:55
WATCH THE CELEBRATION SCENES
Villa fans have waited a long time to witness scenes like these. Drink it in!
Let the celebrations begin! Villa lift the Europa League trophy
Video credit: TNT Sports
22:53
22:53
STATUE FOR MCGINN?
'His statue might be next to Unai's' - Hargreaves on 'remarkable' McGinn
Video credit: TNT Sports
22:50
22:50
SEAL OF ROYAL APPROVAL
22:46
22:46
MCGINN: PROUDEST NIGHT OF MY CAREER
Aston Villa captain John McGinn speaking to TNT Sports: "I can't believe it to be honest. What we've been through as a club, this club was close to being in a right bad way seven years ago.
"V Sports bought the club over. Their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League and back to the levels of before. Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions - I can't describe it."
"We started well. I'm biased, but we have a great set piece coach in Austin MacPhee. We tried to deceive a bit with the set piece. We did it against Liverpool at the weekend. Youri [Tielemans] has great quality to find the goal. It'd have been over the bar if it were me!"
"It means a lot. As a kid growing up, I remember Celtic in 2003 [losing the UEFA Cup final to Porto]. It wasn't a great night for them, but it was special. I was lucky enough to go to the final at Hampden in 2007. To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It's the proudest night of my career.
"I'll try to enjoy it. I like to party but I'll take it easy to try and soak it all in. Being 31, in my first European final, I've seen my mates [Jack] Grealish and [Andy] Robertson win. It's my turn. It's so special, I'll cherish every minute."
Image credit: Getty Images
22:41
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42 YEARS IN THE MAKING
22:38
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HIGHLIGHTS: VILLA THRASH FREIBURG TO CLAIM UEL CROWN
Highlights: Villa claim Europa League crown to create new chapter in club’s history
"Lots of incredible scenes in the stadium, and in the media positions.
"Ex-Villa stars such as Agbonlahor, Andy Townsend, Marc Albrighton and Ian Taylor have disregarded all sense of impartiality and are celebrating both with and as enthusiastically as the excited Villa fans around them."
22:33
22:33
EMERY IN GOOD COMPANY
Tonight Emery won his fifth major European final - something only Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Giovanni Trapattoni have done before.
22:29
22:29
'WHAT YOU DREAM OF' SAYS WATKINS
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins speaking to TNT Sports: "Amazing, amazing. To perform like that was unbelievable. I felt like we really controlled the game and we punished them in the end."
"I've watched many finals and I think set pieces are crucial. Until then, it was a bit cagey, they were going man for man. Fair play to [set piece coach] Austin MacPhee for having the courage, we left four up on a corner. An unbelievable experience. Look at this. It's what you dream of."
On what it means to win the trophy: "Sometimes you have ups and downs, but we pulled through in the end, we pushed on, we got Champions League football. It's so special. All of these fans - it's indescribable."
On Unai Emery: "He was really calm today in the build up. Sometimes in league games he's anxious because he wants to get the win, but today he was calm and that set the tone for us boys.
"Youri [Tielemans] ran the show in the midfield. And Victor [Lindelof] has done so well since he's come in, he was my player of the match today."
Image credit: Getty Images
22:25
22:25
'GET THE STATUE READY'
Hargreaves believes it is time Emery's efforts at Villa were immortalised.
The Spaniard has done an incredible job in his four years at the helm. When he succeeded Steven Gerrard in October 2022, Villa were 16th in the standings, one point above the relegation zone.
He's since guided them into the Champions League, and now ended that long wait for a trophy. Hats off!
'Get the statue ready' - Hargreaves says Emery needs honoured for 'remarkable' job
Video credit: TNT Sports
22:16
22:16
'WE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY'
Morgan Rogers, scorer of Villa's third tonight, told TNT Sports about the historic implications of tonight's win.
"It's hard to put into words, we've worked so hard for this. We've delivered and come through. It's a great moment for the fans, great for the club. We'll go down in history," Rogers said.
"There was so much excitement. We're all really excited. The manager has been banging on at me to get easier goals and get into the box. I'm happy I could get a toe onto it and score. "I'm tired but not that tired. It's all worth it in the end."
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Highlights: Villa claim Europa League crown to create new chapter in club’s history
Video credit: TNT Sports
Emery swarmed by adoring Villa players on way to collecting medal
Video credit: TNT Sports