Aston Villa supporters held strong esteem for Unai Emery, and his record fifth Europa League win provided the trophy he had long wanted. The final featured Villa in white against German opponents in red, with Freiburg and key Villa players Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers scoring. Buendia opened the scoring with a left-foot shot into the top corner at the end of the first half, and Tielemans and Buendia added further goals to put Villa in a commanding position. Rogers then completed the scoring, making the match feel one-sided. Villa fans traveled in large numbers to Istanbul, taking over Taksim Square, to witness Villa’s first continental final in 44 years and a first trophy since 1996. Freiburg entered without any trophies, despite reaching the biggest occasion in their 121-year history.
"Even before this emphatic triumph, Aston Villa supporters could hardly have held their manager in greater esteem. But now Emery, in winning the competition for a record fifth time, has delivered the thing he always wanted, a trophy to show for his transformative body of work. Those who were not around for Rotterdam in 1982 will always cherish Istanbul in 2026. Thomas Tuchel had it right a few years ago when he suggested Uefa may as well rename the Europa League the Unai Emery trophy."
"Just like 82, it was Villa in white against German opponents in red, this time Freiburg and Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers the goalscorers. All three goals were sparkling, Tielemans and Buendia scoring beauties to put Villa in the box seat, before Rogers got in on the act. It felt like a procession from the moment Buendia curled a left-foot peach into the top corner with the final kick of the first half and, as a contest, it was a non-event from the moment Rogers struck."
"Mind you, try telling that to the Villa faithful Freiburg v Aston Villa: Europa League final live who came in their numbers; their official allocation was 10,758 but about double that figure travelled hoping to live a history-making moment. Villa took over Taksim Square, one of the city's hubs. For Villa, a first continental final for 44 years and for Freiburg, the club from south-west Germany who finished seventh in the Bundesliga, this comfortably represented the biggest occasion in their 121-year history."
"A generation of Villa supporters may have arrived in Turkey desperate to see their team lift silverware, a first since the League Cup in 1996, but Freiburg arrived without a single trophy in their cabinet. Villa, guaranteed a place in the Champions League next season, entered as heavy favourites. There was a wonderful sense of occasion when Villa players headed on to the pitch to take in the scenery an hour and a half before kick-off, Ezri Konsa filming th"
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