STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Weds: Freiburg v Aston Villa (UEL Final)

Aston Villa can end their 30-year wait for a major trophy when they face fairytale finalists Freiburg in the Europa League showpiece in Istanbul tonight, writes JOE CITRONE.

Villa are in their first UEFA final since they won the European Cup in 1982, and the weight of that history will be felt on the banks of the Bosphorus.

Unai Emery has won this competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, making him the most decorated manager in Europa League history – and he will be desperate to add a record-extending fifth triumph with a non-Spanish club.

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Freiburg v Aston Villa
UEFA Europa League Final
20:00 TNT Sports 1

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
These two sides have never previously met.

FREIBURG
MAY 2026 BUNDESLIGA Freiburg 4-1 Leipzig
APR 2026 BUNDESLIGA Freiburg 0-2 Dortmund
APR 2026 EUROPA LEAGUE Braga 0-3 Freiburg
APR 2026 EUROPA LEAGUE Freiburg 2-0 Braga
MAR 2026 BUNDESLIGA Freiburg 1-1 Hoffenheim

ASTON VILLA
MAY 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool
MAY 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa
APR 2026 EUROPA LEAGUE Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest
APR 2026 EUROPA LEAGUE Nottingham Forest 0-2 Aston Villa
APR 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace

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Freiburg are an entertaining watch, with top scorer Vincenzo Grifo, goalkeeper Noah Atubolu and 20-year-old midfielder Johan Manzambi all playing huge roles in their run to the final.

But this is an occasion that demands Villa deliver, and with an expert in occasions like this in Emery in the dugout, I expect them to do exactly that.

It should be a good watch, though, and that’s why I am backing a Villa win and both teams to score at 14/5 with starsports.bet.

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