Aston Villa vs Freiburg: Europa League final today, end 44-year drought
Aston Villa will take on SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final today at Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The match kicks off Wednesday night as Aston Villa seeks to end a 44-year wait for major European silverware, last winning the European Cup in 1982 by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam. Freiburg, meanwhile, is playing the biggest match in its history after reaching its first ever European final by overcoming Braga 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, a six-time Europa League finalist, has won the trophy three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, and lost the 2019 final with Arsenal to Chelsea. Villa come into the final after a 4-1 aggregate semi‑final win over Nottingham Forest and a 4-2 Premier League victory over Liverpool last Friday, which lifted them to fourth in the league table. Freiburg sit seventh in the Bundesliga after a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig last Saturday.
Local commentator Saheed Afolabi told DAILY POST he expects Villa to win, citing their quality and the Liverpool win as a sign of determination.
Will you be tuning in to watch the final, and which side do you think will lift the trophy?