Aston Villa are trophy winners for the first time in 30 years, and Unai Emery is now a five-time Europa League winner, after Villa soared their way to a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on Wednesday.
MORE — How to watch Europa League final
Youri Tielemans scored what turned out to be the winning goal, the opener, in the 41st minute, and a worthy winner it was. Morgan Rogers floated a ball to Tielemans at the back post and he walloped it back across goal on the volley. Emi Buendia made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, when he curled a stunner inside the far post from outside the box.
It was mostly Villa before the break, and more of the same after. Rogers slid in to tap in Buendia’s cross to the near post on 58 minutes, and that’s when the party officially kicked off in the stands and back in Birmingham. Aston Villa’s last piece of silverware was the 1995-96 League Cup.
Emery has lifted the Europa League trophy four times before — three straight seasons with Sevilla in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and then again with Villarreal in 2021 — which already makes him the competitions most prolific winner before adding no. 5 on Wednesday. Legendary Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni won led Juventus (1977 and 1993) and Inter Milan (1991) to three victories back when it was known as the UEFA Cup.
Aston Villa have also tasted European glory before, winning the old European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) in 1982, however this was their first time in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final.
Below are live updates from Aston Villa vs Freiburg, with everything you need.
Youri Tielemans, a man for a magnificent moment in a final.
Morgan Rogers floated the ball high and far to the back-post side, teeing up Tielemans for an audacious attempt 15 yards out and well wide of the goal frame. He smashed it back across the face of goal and stuck it inside the far post. Take a bow, sir.
WATCHING THIS FINISH ON REPEAT 😮💨
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 20, 2026
YOURI TIELEMANS FIRES ASTON VILLA IN FRONT WITH A BEAUTY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NSQisuIgn2
Well, this game sure has opened up nicely in the last 10 minutes, and suddenly Aston Villa look like the vastly superior side we expected them to be. Individual quality is really on display now.
THAT IS SPECIAL ✨
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 20, 2026
Emiliano Buendía with a sensational left-footed strike for Aston Villa to double their lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/J5qRmIo5xn
Emi Buendia did brilliantly well to beat him man for a half-yard to get the cross in, and Morgan Rogers read it perfectly. It’s going to be a long, loud night back in Birmingham tonight.
THE ASTON VILLA PARTY HAS STARTED 🎉
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 20, 2026
Morgan Rogers slides in at the near post to make it 3-0 and the Villains have one hand on the trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kwAoJr3Xgz
Aston Villa’s first trophy in 30 years, and Unai Emery’s fifth Europa League title. They were heavy favorites, and they lived up to the tag. 3-0, never in doubt, one of the greatest nights in club history. This is what it’s all about.
HISTORY FOR ASTON VILLA 🏆
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 20, 2026
THEY ARE EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 💜 pic.twitter.com/HSlLSoi0HU
Atubolu - Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu - Eggestein, Hofler, Manzambi - Beste, Grifo, Matanovic
Freiburg's formation for the #UELfinal 👥 pic.twitter.com/eB3VmuwstN
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 20, 2026
Martinez - Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne - Lindelof, Tielemans, Rogers - McGinn, Buendia, Watkins
Your #UELfinal Aston Villa team! 👊 pic.twitter.com/juaknrF1BV
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 20, 2026
- finished 7th in league phase
- beat Genk 5-2 in the round of 16
- beat Celta Vigo 6-1 in the quarterfinals
- beat Braga 4-3 in the semifinals
- finished 2nd in the league phase
- beat Lille 3-0 in the round of 16
- beat Bologna 7-1 in the quarterfinals
- beat Nottingham Forest 4-1 in the semifinals
