2025-26 UEFA Europa League Final Preview

SC Freiburg meet Aston Villa in the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League Final with a Champions League spot on offer. 

Victory would see SC Freiburg claim a first title across all UEFA competitions, whilst Villa could win their third major European title after they won the European Cup and European Super Cup titles in 1982.

 

Team News

Patrick Osterhage is a doubt for SC Freiburg as he continues to recover from minor knee surgery in April, but he is nearing a return to the matchday squad although it’s unclear if he is fit enough for this match.

Yuito Suzuki is ruled out with a collarbone injury.

Villa have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 4-2 Premier League victory against Liverpool last Friday evening.

Alysson (muscle), Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara (both knee) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

SC Freiburg meet Aston Villa at Besiktas Stadium, Istanbul, on Wednesday 20 May at 10pm TRT (8pm BST), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Freiburg’s first-ever competitive meeting against Aston Villa in all competitions.
• Villa are facing a fifth different German opponent in UEFA competitions – having previously faced Dynamo Berlin, Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV and RB Leipzig.
• Eight of Freiburg’s 15 knockout goals were scored in the first half.
• All five of Ollie Watkins’ Europa League goals this season for Villa have been scored in the knockout stages.

 

Prediction

Chasing their first major trophy despite having kept a single sheet in the knockout stages, Freiburg’s firepower definitely can’t be underestimated but they haven’t exactly been tested against proper top-quality opposition aside from Lille in their final group match which they lost 1-0.

Villa meanwhile are deserving favourites given that they only finished second in the group on goal difference behind Lille and have an Europa League specialist manager in Unai Emery, whilst a clinical performance against a strong team in Liverpool was the ideal preparation for this showpiece.

Another positive in Villa’s favour is that they know how to keep it tight defensively when needed with just two goals conceded in the knockout stages, whereas Freiburg are more fragile at the back so this could get cagey initially if the latter tries to get ahead early then sit deep.

I however do think that Villa will prove too much with their quality and the experience of Emery.

Prediction: SC Freiburg 1-2 Aston Villa