Aston Villa thrash Freiburg to end 30 year trophy drought on historic night in Istanbul

Unai Emery’s side produced one of the best performances of the Spaniard’s reign to rip Freiburg apart in the Europa League final.

It ended 30 years of hurt since Brian Little’s team beat Leeds United in the 1996 League Cup final at the old Wembley, and also marked 44 years since their 1982 European Cup final triumph.

Villa beat German opposition on that most famous night in their history, edging out Bayern Munich 1-0, but there were few nerves as the class of 2026 crushed Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul last night.

Youri Tielemans got the ball rolling with a stunning volley four minutes before half-time.

That was doubled just before the whistle sounded for the interval when Emi Buendia curled home, and Morgan Rogers completed the scoring just before the hour-mark.

After falling short in the Conference League semi-finals and Champions League last-eight over recent times, Emery brought European success back to Villa Park at the third time of asking with his fifth Europa League title.

The Prince of Wales was in attendance to witness Villa’s first European final since he was born, and watched his beloved side win their first silverware since the League Cup in 1996 and a first continental trophy since the European Cup in 1982.

Villa made their intentions known from the outset and it took just two minutes for them to make their mark when Rogers unleashed an effort which forced a first save from Noah Atubolu.

Freiburg have been deadly from set-pieces this season and almost made Villa pay from another when a ball into the box bounced favourably for Nicolas Hofler but he dragged an effort wide.

And Emiliano Martinez, who seemed fine after a slight injury scare in the warm-up, was required to stop exciting talent Johan Manzambi from range.

All the focus was on Freiburg’s danger from dead balls, but the Premier League side are capable themselves, and they broke the deadlock four minutes before the break courtesy of a well-worked set-piece.

The first corner of the game fell to Villa who played short to Rogers and he crossed onto the onrushing Tielemans who arrived into the area and fired a spectacular volley past Atubolu.

And Villa doubled their advantage seconds before the interval when Buendia had the space of Besiktas Park to tee up and bend a beautiful strike into the top-left corner from the edge of the box.

Villa’s confidence was up and Buendia tried a cheeky chip moments after the restart which Atubolu was alert to.

Villa did not rest on their laurels and had a third in the 58th minute, this time Buendia turned creator who sent in a cross which deflected nicely into the path of Rogers who slid home from two yards out.

John McGinn was then denied by Atubolu after Amadou Onana hit the post which mattered little as Villa won a first European trophy since winning the European Cup 44 years ago.