Aston Villa thrashed Freiburg to win the Europa League.

(NLĐO) - Aston Villa's resounding 3-0 victory over Freiburg in Istanbul secured their first Europa League title, ending three decades without a trophy and marking Unai Emery's reign as "Europa League king."

Exactly 30 years after their last major trophy win – the 1996 League Cup – Aston Villa finally rediscovered their glory by defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the 2025-2026 Europa League final at Besiktas Park (Istanbul, Türkiye).

Aston Villa completely dominated Freiburg.

Dressed in all-white kits to recreate the image of the generation that won the European Cup (the predecessor of the Champions League) in 1982, the Premier League representatives started the match with great enthusiasm. Just two minutes into the game, Morgan Rogers tested goalkeeper Noah Atubolu with a powerful shot, forcing the Freiburg custodian to make a crucial save.

In their first appearance in a European Cup final, Freiburg also showed they were not easily defeated. Nicolas Höfler had a chance to open the scoring, but his left-footed shot went wide of Emiliano Martínez's goalpost.

Youri Tielemans (8) opened the scoring with a spectacular goal.

After a period of back-and-forth play, Aston Villa began to pick up the pace towards the end of the first half and created a turning point within just seven minutes. In the 38th minute, from a well-executed corner kick, Morgan Rogers provided a perfect pass for Youri Tielemans to unleash a powerful low volley, opening the scoring.

Emiliano Buendia (10) doubled the lead with another spectacular goal.

If Tielemans' goal was already spectacular, Emiliano Buendia's stunning strike in first-half stoppage time sent the Istanbul stadium into an even greater frenzy. The Argentinian midfielder skillfully turned just outside the penalty area before curling a shot into the far corner, giving goalkeeper Atubolu no chance to save it.

A superb performance from the Argentinian midfielder.

Leading by two goals after the break, Aston Villa played with even more confidence. In the 58th minute, Buendía continued to impress with a well-placed cross for Morgan Rogers to run past the Freiburg defender and tap the ball into the net from close range, making it 3-0.

Morgan Rogers overwhelmed Freiburg in less than an hour of play.

The three goals also extinguished any hope of a comeback for the Bundesliga representatives. Despite their best efforts, Freiburg could not make a difference in their first appearance on the big stage of European football.

The victory in Istanbul secured Aston Villa their first European title since 1982 and their first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup. This success further highlighted the talent of manager Unai Emery, who has now won the Europa League five times, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Aston Villa make a strong return to the European stage.

Under the guidance of the Spanish strategist, Aston Villa is experiencing a strong resurgence. After securing a Champions League spot by finishing in the top 5 of the Premier League, the Birmingham team also ended the season with a convincing Europa League trophy, officially returning to the ranks of formidable forces in European football.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dai-thang-freiburg-aston-villa-vo-dich-europa-league-19626052105584191.htm