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Aston Villa will aim to end their 30-year wait for a major trophy when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final.
Villa boss Unai Emery is aiming to lift the trophy for the fifth time after previous wins with Sevilla and Villarreal.
For their opponents, the tie represents their first-ever appearance in a European final and the German side have never won a major trophy in their 122-year history.
After overcoming a first leg deficit to beat Braga, though, they will face Villa in the showpiece contest.
The winner will also secure qualification for next season’s Champions League, although Villa are on course to do so directly through the Premier League.
This year’s final will be refereed by France’s Francois Letexier, who previously oversaw the final of Euro 2024 between Spain and England.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Date and how to follow
The Europa League final will take place on Wednesday, May 20, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.
talkSPORT will have live commentary from Istanbul as Adrian Durham, Andy Townsend and Gabby Agbonlahor present coverage from 7pm.
To tune in via the talkSPORT website, click HERE for the livestream.
Alternatively, you can listen on the talkSPORT app here, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom by TNT Sports.
In previous seasons, the broadcaster has aired the match for free live on their YouTube channel.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Venue
The Besiktas Stadium in Istanbul will host this season’s Europa League final.
Opened in 2016, the 42,684-capacity venue is home to Turkish giants Besiktas.
It has previously hosted a European final, with the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final staged at the stadium.
On that occasion, Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties in an all-English affair.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Team news
Freiburg are facing a nervy wait over the fitness of central defender Matthias Ginter.
The World Cup winner was forced off during their match against Hamburg just 10 days before the final.
Meanwhile, midfielder Yuito Suzuki has been ruled out of the match with a fractured collarbone.
Max Rosenfelder is also likely to miss out, having been sidelined with a hamstring injury since February.
Patrick Osterhage joins the defender following knee surgery last month.
As for Villa, the final is set to come too soon for Amadou Onana to return to action.
The Belgian is not expected to be fit before the final day of the Premier League season on May 24.
January signing Alysson also remains sidelined, whilst Boubacar Kamara will not feature after being ruled out for the season in January.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: What’s been said?
Emery reiterated that the Premier League remains Villa’s priority after reaching the Europa League final.
Speaking before their recent draw with Burnley, he explained: “If we are losing (the final), we are not getting a trophy, we are not getting the Champions League position for the next year, and we must, again, watch the league, and how we are finishing in the league.
“The priority to achieve our objective is through the league. In the league, we are not performing the last matches like we were.
“The consistency is still to try to set the consistency during the league.
“Burnley on Sunday is a huge opportunity. A huge opportunity to try to get the fifth position definitely, or of course, waiting for the next two matches against Liverpool and Manchester City.
“This opportunity is on Sunday and of course, it’s the priority now, and it’s very, very important.”
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Route to the final
Both Freiburg and Villa finished in the top eight of the league phase table to advance directly to the last 16.
Freiburg did so in seventh place after winning five of their eight matches as well as drawing two and losing once.
Julian Schuster’s side were beaten in their final league phase match against Lille.
The defeat followed wins over Basel, Utrecht, Nice, RB Salzburg and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Routes to the Europa League final
Aston Villa
League phase:
- Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna
- Feyenoord 0-2 Aston Villa
- Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- Basel 1-2 Aston Villa
- Fenerbahce 0-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 3-2 RB Salzburg
Round of 16:
- Lille 0-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 2-0 Lille (3-0 on aggregate)
Quarter-final:
- Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna (7-1 on aggregate)
Semi-final:
- Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest (4-1 on aggregate)
Freiburg
League phase:
- Freiburg 2-1 Basel
- Bologna 1-1 Freiburg
- Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht
- Nice 1-3 Freiburg
- Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Freiburg
- Freiburg 1-0 RB Salzburg
- Freiburg 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Round of 16:
- Genk 1-0 Freiburg
- Freiburg 5-1 Genk (5-2 on aggregate)
Quarter-final:
- Freiburg 3-0 Celta Vigo
- Celta Vigo 1-3 Freiburg (1-6 on aggregate)
Semi-final:
- Braga 2-1 Freiburg
- Freiburg 3-1 Braga (4-3 on aggregate)
They have since knocked out Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga during the knockout stage to reach the final.
Meanwhile, Villa finished second behind Lyon after seven wins and one defeat in the league phase this season.
Those victories came against Bologna, Feyenoord, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, Basel, Fenerbahce and RB Salzburg.
Despite losing away to Go Ahead Eagles, Villa eased into the knockout stage, where they have since beaten both Lille and Bologna.
Emery’s side booked their place in the final with an emphatic second leg victory over Nottingham Forest.
After losing the first leg 1-0 at the City Ground, they thrashed their Premier League rivals 4-0 at Villa Park.
Aston Villa will aim to end their 30-year wait for a major trophy when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final.
Villa boss Unai Emery is aiming to lift the trophy for the fifth time after previous wins with Sevilla and Villarreal.
For their opponents, the tie represents their first-ever appearance in a European final and the German side have never won a major trophy in their 122-year history.
After overcoming a first leg deficit to beat Braga, though, they will face Villa in the showpiece contest.
The winner will also secure qualification for next season’s Champions League, although Villa are on course to do so directly through the Premier League.
This year’s final will be refereed by France’s Francois Letexier, who previously oversaw the final of Euro 2024 between Spain and England.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Date and how to follow
The Europa League final will take place on Wednesday, May 20, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.
talkSPORT will have live commentary from Istanbul as Adrian Durham, Andy Townsend and Gabby Agbonlahor present coverage from 7pm.
To tune in via the talkSPORT website, click HERE for the livestream.
Alternatively, you can listen on the talkSPORT app here, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom by TNT Sports.
In previous seasons, the broadcaster has aired the match for free live on their YouTube channel.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Venue
The Besiktas Stadium in Istanbul will host this season’s Europa League final.
Opened in 2016, the 42,684-capacity venue is home to Turkish giants Besiktas.
It has previously hosted a European final, with the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final staged at the stadium.
On that occasion, Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties in an all-English affair.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Team news
Freiburg are facing a nervy wait over the fitness of central defender Matthias Ginter.
The World Cup winner was forced off during their match against Hamburg just 10 days before the final.
Meanwhile, midfielder Yuito Suzuki has been ruled out of the match with a fractured collarbone.
Max Rosenfelder is also likely to miss out, having been sidelined with a hamstring injury since February.
Patrick Osterhage joins the defender following knee surgery last month.
As for Villa, the final is set to come too soon for Amadou Onana to return to action.
The Belgian is not expected to be fit before the final day of the Premier League season on May 24.
January signing Alysson also remains sidelined, whilst Boubacar Kamara will not feature after being ruled out for the season in January.
Aston Villa v Freiburg: What’s been said?
Emery reiterated that the Premier League remains Villa’s priority after reaching the Europa League final.
Speaking before their recent draw with Burnley, he explained: “If we are losing (the final), we are not getting a trophy, we are not getting the Champions League position for the next year, and we must, again, watch the league, and how we are finishing in the league.
“The priority to achieve our objective is through the league. In the league, we are not performing the last matches like we were.
“The consistency is still to try to set the consistency during the league.
“Burnley on Sunday is a huge opportunity. A huge opportunity to try to get the fifth position definitely, or of course, waiting for the next two matches against Liverpool and Manchester City.
“This opportunity is on Sunday and of course, it’s the priority now, and it’s very, very important.”
Aston Villa v Freiburg: Route to the final
Both Freiburg and Villa finished in the top eight of the league phase table to advance directly to the last 16.
Freiburg did so in seventh place after winning five of their eight matches as well as drawing two and losing once.
Julian Schuster’s side were beaten in their final league phase match against Lille.
The defeat followed wins over Basel, Utrecht, Nice, RB Salzburg and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Routes to the Europa League final
Aston Villa
League phase:
- Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna
- Feyenoord 0-2 Aston Villa
- Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- Basel 1-2 Aston Villa
- Fenerbahce 0-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 3-2 RB Salzburg
Round of 16:
- Lille 0-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 2-0 Lille (3-0 on aggregate)
Quarter-final:
- Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna (7-1 on aggregate)
Semi-final:
- Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest (4-1 on aggregate)
Freiburg
League phase:
- Freiburg 2-1 Basel
- Bologna 1-1 Freiburg
- Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht
- Nice 1-3 Freiburg
- Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Freiburg
- Freiburg 1-0 RB Salzburg
- Freiburg 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Round of 16:
- Genk 1-0 Freiburg
- Freiburg 5-1 Genk (5-2 on aggregate)
Quarter-final:
- Freiburg 3-0 Celta Vigo
- Celta Vigo 1-3 Freiburg (1-6 on aggregate)
Semi-final:
- Braga 2-1 Freiburg
- Freiburg 3-1 Braga (4-3 on aggregate)
They have since knocked out Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga during the knockout stage to reach the final.
Meanwhile, Villa finished second behind Lyon after seven wins and one defeat in the league phase this season.
Those victories came against Bologna, Feyenoord, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, Basel, Fenerbahce and RB Salzburg.
Despite losing away to Go Ahead Eagles, Villa eased into the knockout stage, where they have since beaten both Lille and Bologna.
Emery’s side booked their place in the final with an emphatic second leg victory over Nottingham Forest.
After losing the first leg 1-0 at the City Ground, they thrashed their Premier League rivals 4-0 at Villa Park.
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| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | Ciaran Wiseman |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-05-14 10:58:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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