Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa (Tielemans 41’, Buendia 45+3’, Rogers 58’)
BESIKTAS PARK — How is it that one night can make 30 years of waiting feel instantly worthwhile? Only football can do this, because only football delivers the gut-wrenching lows that make the highs so much sweeter.
Aston Villa, who have lost four Wembley finals since 2000, who were a Championship side in 2019 and escaped relegation on the final day a year later, are Europa League winners in 2026.
With Prince William watching on, the 3-0 victory over Freiburg crowns Unai Emery an all-time Villa great, and in winning this competition a record-extending fifth time, the Spaniard has the silverware his tireless efforts to transform this cub deserve.
PRINCE WILLIAM ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT pic.twitter.com/HQyyMyzfJK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 20, 2026And it was sealed in royal fashion. Wondergoals from free transfer Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia, who almost left last summer, put Villa in dreamland before Morgan Rogers sealed it, paving the way for future Villa Park statue John McGinn to become the first Villa captain to lift a major trophy since Andy Townsend in 1996.
Villa’s journey under Emery had dominated the build-up, so too the sense his reign needed something more tangible than a top-four finish and wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
It made for a claret-and-blue air of hopeful expectation in Istanbul, and in the city where continents collide two rival tribes gathered in the narrow streets off the main shopping strip on Tuesday night – ex-Villa players Stiliyan Petrov, Ian Taylor and Lee Hendrie included – to speculate about the final to come. It was clear both sides knew who the favourites were.
Favourites is an unusual tag for Villa. In the domestic finals since their League Cup win 30 years ago, they had lost to Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City. They were the underdogs who left empty-handed.
This time though the onus was on Villa. The free shot was Freiburg’s, who were playing the biggest match in their 122-year history, and the 10pm local kick-off time only added to the tension. “Three hours to go and now I’m scared,” one passing Villa supporter said down to the phone to a loved one.
Thankfully the rain that had turned roads into rivers earlier in the day relented and Villa supporters made their way to Besiktas Park, making the 20-minute walk from the fan park clutching cans and dreaming this would be the night. Parents who remember the 1982 European Cup and the two Coca-Cola Cups in the 90s eager to share a positive memory with a generation who have grown up witnessing near misses and the spiral that led to three years in the Championship.
Sensational from Youri Tielemans An absolute rocket to give Aston Villa the lead in the Europa League final TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/zOZAIDXLKg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 20, 2026They have their memories now, but amid the rising noise inside the ground, first a concern for Villa before kick-off when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez clutched his hand during the warm-up. The problem was unclear but tended to, and a thumbs up indicated the Argentine was okay to start.
Once under way, misplaced passes displayed early nerves from Villa, but their first chance arrived inside three minutes when Morgan Rogers forced an early save from Noah Atubolu.
Freiburg were physical, pressing high, and as supporters had noted before kick-off, their best chance of winning was from set-pieces. That almost rang true just 17 minutes in, but from the half-cleared free-kick Nicolas Hofler dragged his shot wide when he should have hit the target.
Early yellows for Buendia and Matty Cash were proof of Villa’s frustration defensively, while going forward decisions were letting them down. Ollie Watkins shying away from a shot, the ball not quite settling for McGinn. Something special was required.
Freiburg meanwhile were growing in confidence. The gameplan was working and 20-year-old Johan Manzambi in particular looked threatening.
Then something special came. Rogers’ cross, Youri Tieleman’s volley, a strike so clean yet so filthy. To even attempt that in a final, let alone score it. The Belgian who had scored Leicester City’s FA Cup winner in 2021 had set Villa on their way.
Then something special again. This time Buendia curling in a stunner to give Villa fans a half-time party. One hand was on the trophy, and just before the hour-mark it was all-but theirs when Rogers poked home.
Buendía brilliance Emiliano Buendía with a beauty to make it 2-0 to Aston Villa just before half-time TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/sVmWF0Leoa
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 20, 2026It had been too long, but this coach in this competition with this core of players. It was the perfect match, and in the line of dominoes leading up to this moment – the 2018 takeover, the 2019 play-off win, the 2022 appointment of Emery – a nod must go out to Thomas Bramall.
Last year referee Bramall controversially ruled out a Villa goal at Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season. It meant Villa missed out on the Champions League and played they Europa League instead.
Villa were furious then. They won’t be now.
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