Goals by Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers helped Aston Villa crush Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on the morning of May 21 in the Europa League final. The victory brought Aston Villa their first trophy in 30 years.

Aston Villa - Image 1.
Aston Villa win their first trophy in 30 years – Photo: EPA

For Aston Villa, this was their first European final in 44 years. For Freiburg, it was the biggest event in their 121-year history.

Aston Villa started the match better than their opponent, creating several chances, but had to wait until the 41st minute for the English side to take the lead with a superb goal from Youri Tielemans.

From a corner kick combination on the left wing, Morgan Rogers delivered an excellent cross into the box for Tielemans to unleash a stunning volley that beat goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, making it 1-0 for Aston Villa.

In the final minutes of stoppage time in the first half, Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia executed a skillful curler with the inside of his left foot, sending the ball straight into the top corner to give Aston Villa a 2-0 lead.

Everything was over for Freiburg in the 57th minute, when Morgan Rogers tapped in from close range after a cross from Buendia to seal a 3-0 victory, giving Aston Villa their first European trophy in 44 years.

The Aston Villa manager also made history as the first coach to win the Europa League five times.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England, founded in 1874. It is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in English football history, having won the First Division title seven times and the FA Cup seven times. The club plays its home matches at Villa Park, a historic stadium that has hosted major international tournaments.

Freiburg

Freiburg, located in southwestern Germany at the edge of the Black Forest, is a historic university city founded in 1120. Its medieval old town features the iconic Freiburg Minster, a Gothic cathedral built largely between the 13th and 16th centuries, and is crisscrossed by small waterways called “Bächle.” Despite heavy bombing in World War II, much of the city has been carefully restored, blending its rich history with a vibrant, eco-friendly modern culture.

Europa League

The Europa League is an annual football competition organized by UEFA, featuring top-tier clubs from across Europe that did not qualify for the Champions League. Established in 1971 as the UEFA Cup, it was rebranded as the Europa League in 2009, with a new format and a distinct trophy. The tournament has a rich history of dramatic matches and has seen clubs like Sevilla and Atlético Madrid achieve multiple titles.

Istanbul

Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is a historic Turkish city that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. It served as the capital of the Byzantine and later the Ottoman Empires for over a millennium, leaving a rich legacy of landmarks like the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque. Today, it remains Turkey’s largest city and a vibrant cultural hub, blending ancient traditions with modern life.