Freiburg vs Aston Villa LIVE
Aston Villa can claim a European title for the first time since 2001 as they face Freiburg in the Europa League final tonight. Two-and-a-half decades have passed since they were crowned Intertoto Cup champions, but the Europa League specialist Unai Emery has come in and worked his magic, delivering the Birmingham club to the final just four years after joining the club. He has four titles in this competition, three with Sevilla and another with Villarreal, and will hope to add a fifth to his collection tonight.
Only Freiburg stand in his way. The German side finished seventh in this year’s Bundesliga and have impressed throughout this campaign, beating the likes of Braga, Celta Vigo, Lille and Nice en route to the final. They were playing second-tier football in Germany just a decade ago but have hardly looked back since winning the 2. Bundesliga in 2016, and today face their first-ever European final.
Win tonight, and Villa could keep alive the hopes of Premier League clubs completing a clean sweep of European titles this season. Follow the match below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis.
Freiburg vs Aston Villa latest news
- Kick-off: 8pm BST, Besiktas Stadium
- How to watch: TNT Sports
- Aston Villa XI
- Freiburg XI
- Standard Sport prediction
Unai Emery on matchday prep
19:40 , Arthur Ferridge
“The feeling [in the squad] is very normal. Trying to analyse our performance, how we must try to get it today, analysing the opponent to compete, of course, respecting them a lot. Then focus. We want them to be focused completely with the game plan.”
Vincenzo Grifo
19:36 , Arthur Ferridge
Vicenzo Grifo comes into this tie as Freiburg’s top goalscorer in the Europa League.
He scored seven and assisted five in the Bundesliga this year, and has a further five goals and four assists on the continent.
Freiburg’s No32 will certainly be one to watch tonight.
Martinez latest
19:29 , Arthur Ferridge
Martinez has headed back into the changing rooms, but appeared to flash a ‘thumbs-up’ at the club physio.
A big day for Freiburg
19:28 , Arthur Ferridge
Freiburg tonight are contesting their first ever European final in 122 years of existence.
They were still playing in the German second tier just 10 years ago.
Martinez injury scare?
19:22 , Arthur Ferridge
Emi Martinez seems to have picked up a minor injury in warm-ups!
He is currently being checked out by the club’s physios.
Marco Bizot would be the most likely understudy called up if it Martinez is forced to drop out of the team.
McGinn on form
19:20 , Arthur Ferridge
John McGinn comes into this match in the form of his life.
He has six goal contributions in his last seven appearances for Aston Villa.
Emery expecting a challenge
19:12 , Arthur Ferridge
“[Freiburg are] very competitive. They have a coach who instils a lot of intensity, and they have experienced players.
“It’s a style of football that relies heavily on talent and character; both qualities combine to produce good players, young ones, like Freiburg have, and veterans.
“I played against Freiburg with Sevilla 12 years ago and two of their players from that game are still there: (Matthias) Ginter and (Christian) Günter.
“They’re having a very good season. Above all, they have a clear idea, a style that defines them very well.
“So, they are [in the final] because they deserve to be and because they are competing very well, because they have a great coach and because they have good players, and above all, a fantastic fanbase, and they are hungry.”
Recent Europa League champions
19:04 , Arthur Ferridge
2024/25: Tottenham Hotspur
2023/24: Atalanta
2022/23: Sevilla
2021/22: Eintracht Frankfurt
2020/21: Villarreal
Aston Villa team
18:56 , Arthur Ferridge
The Aston Villa starting XI is unchanged for the third match on the spin!
This squad beat Liverpool 4-2 at the weekend, and drew 2-2 with Burnley before that.
There is some good news, too, as Amadou Onana returns to the bench after recovering from a minor injury.
FREIBURG CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:48 , Arthur Ferridge
And here are tonight’s underdogs.
Freiburg XI: Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Hofler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, Matanovic
Subs: Muller, Huth, Jung, Osterhage, Scherhant, Holer, Irie, Philipp, Gunter, Makengo, Rosenfelder, Ogbus
ASTON VILLA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:46 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery names his side for the Europa League final.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Digne, Pau, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Onana, Bogarde, Bailey
Team news up next
18:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Lineups will be confirmed in five minutes!
Freiburg route to the final
18:35 , Arthur Ferridge
League phase:
2-1 W vs Basel
1-1 D vs Bologna
2-0 W vs Utrecht
3-1 W vs Nice
0-0 D vs Viktoria Plzen
1-0 W vs RB Salzburg
1-0 W vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
0-1 L vs Lille
Ro16: 5-2 agg W vs Genk
QF: 6-1 agg W vs Celta Vigo
SF: 4-3 agg W vs Braga
Match odds
18:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Freiburg to win: 12/5
Aston Villa to win: 2/7
Via Boyle Sports (Subject to change)
Aston Villa route to the final
18:25 , Arthur Ferridge
League phase:
1-0 W vs Bologna
2-0 W vs Feyenoord
1-2 L vs Go Ahead Eagles
2-0 W vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
2-1 W vs Young Boys
2-1 W vs Basel
1-0 W vs Fenerbahce
3-2 W vs RB Salzburg
Ro16: 3-0 agg W vs Lille
QF: 7-1 agg W vs Bologna
SF: 4-1 agg W vs Nottingham Forest
Unai Emery: Europa League specialist
18:20 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery has won this competition four times, more than any other coach, and can clinch a fifth title tonight.
He won it three seasons on the spin with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016, and again with Villarreal in 2021.
He will hope to end his five-year drought in the competition tonight.
Standard Sport prediction
18:10 , Arthur Ferridge
Aston Villa come into this match on soaring form, with last week’s rip-roaring dismantling of Liverpool fresh in the memory.
That match serves as evidence of their potential, and shows exactly how good they can be.
If they can do that to the Premier League champions, Freiburg will be very, very worried.
Aston Villa to win, 3-0.
Freiburg early team news
18:00 , Arthur Ferridge
Centre-back Matthias Ginter suffered an injury ahead of this match and it remains unclear if he will be involved today.
Midfielder Yuito Suzuki will definitely be absent with a fractured collarbone.
Aston Villa early team news
17:50 , Arthur Ferridge
Unai Emery will be without three players here.
Boubacar Kamara is out with a knee injury, while Alysson misses out with a groin problem.
Amadou Onana is a doubt, though, as he looks to shake off a calf problem. He will face a late fitness test.
How to watch
17:40 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 6pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Good evening
17:31 , Arthur Ferridge
Hello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Freiburg vs Aston Villa in the Europa League final!
Unai Emery is already the winningest manager in this competition’s history. Can he clinch a fifth title tonight?
All will be revealed! Stick with us for all the latest from Istanbul. Kick-off is at 8pm BST.
