Aston Villa have won the UEFA Europa League, defeating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to claim their first European trophy since lifting the European Cup in 1982 — and handing manager Unai Emery an unprecedented fifth Europa League title.
Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers sealed a commanding victory at the Beşiktaş Park stadium, with Villa dominant throughout and never seriously threatened by their Bundesliga opponents.
Tielemans opened the scoring in stunning fashion on 41 minutes, meeting a Morgan Rogers corner with an audacious first-time volley that flew into the bottom corner. Minutes later, deep into first-half stoppage time, Buendía doubled the lead with a sensational curling left-footed strike to send Villa into the break in complete control.
Rogers, who had been Villa’s most dangerous player all evening, added a third on 58 minutes to put the result beyond any doubt. Freiburg, in their first ever European final, were unable to find a way back and end the night empty-handed despite a spirited effort.
For Emery, it is the fifth time he has lifted this trophy — three consecutive triumphs with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016, a fourth with Villarreal in 2021 and now this. No manager in the competition’s history has won it more times.
For Villa, it is the fulfilment of a journey that began with Emery’s appointment in 2022 and has gathered extraordinary momentum — culminating tonight in European silverware and a place in next season’s Champions League.
