Aston Villa won the Europa League 3-0 vs Freiburg as Unai Emery made history
Aston Villa beat German side Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to clinch a historic Europa League title, ending a 44-year wait for European silverware and cementing Unai Emery’s position as the greatest manager in the competition’s history.
In a one-sided final, Villa were dominant, outscoring Freiburg on all fronts to deliver the most played European final by an English club in recent history.
For a team whose last European trophy came in the form of the European Cup in 1982, the wait is over.
Stunners from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia set the tone
Villa broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with a superb team goal.
A well-worked corner resulted in Morgan Rogers’ floating cross and a superb volley from Youri Tielemans to give Villa the lead. It was a good goal at the right time from Emery’s side.
But Villa was not finished there. Deep into the first half, Emiliano Buendia produced a moment of magic, finding space on the edge of the area before curling a clever left-footed shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
It was a goal that caught the breath of the onlookers and put the game out of Freiburg’s reach before the break.
Buendía brilliance?
Emiliano Buendía with the beauty to make it 2-0 to Aston Villa just before the break?
? TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/sVmWF0Leoa
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) May 20, 2026
Freiburg, who made history by reaching the European final for the first time, were shocked and did not respond.
Morgan Rogers made it 3-0 early in the second period to seal the win
If there was any doubt, Morgan Rogers ended it in the 58th minute.
The powerful young Englishman, who has been one of Villa’s standout players throughout the campaign, calmly converted a low cross from Buendía to make it 3-0 and send the Villa faithful on their way.
A great goal by Morgan Rogers to make it 3-0 to Aston Villa?
? TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/au6d0pDG3B
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) May 20, 2026
The statistics told the full story, Villa registered 16 shot attempts to Freiburg’s four, and Freiburg’s five corners.
Unai Emery’s incredible Europa League record
Unai Emery has now won the UEFA Europa League an incredible five times, three with Sevilla (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16), and Villarreal (2020-21), and now with Aston Villa in 2025-26. No manager in history comes close to that record.
It is the final testament to the manager who arrived at Villa Park in November 2022, inherited a struggling side just one point off the relegation zone, and has systematically transformed them into one of Europe’s top clubs.
This season alone, Villa have qualified for the Champions League with their Premier League finish and now add Europa League glory on top of that.
Emery took charge in a sixth European final on Wednesday night. He has now won five of them. The man, simply, is the king of this competition.
