Relive Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Aston Villa take on Freiburg in the Europa League final at Tupras Stadium in Turkey.
What. A. Night.
After a 30-year rollercoaster ride full of highs and, well, a silly amount of lows, Aston Villa are trophy winners once again.
There were the heroes of '82 in Rotterdam, now there are the stars of '26 in Istanbul.
It was no miracle tonight, not like we saw in 2005 with Liverpool, but rather an all-out demolition. Villa didn't just beat Freiburg to win the Europa League; they ripped them apart and could have easily won by four or five.
But three will do, and boy, they were three outstanding goals. A rifle of a strike from Youri Tielemans, a pearler from Emi Buendia, and a sensational team move finished off by Morgan Rogers.
Unai Emery deserves a hell of a lot of praise for bringing the glory days back to those in claret and blue. What a job he has done. And hey, his first trophy at the club just had to be this one, didn't it?
Anyway, I'm sure the celebrations will go long into the night, not only for the players and staff, but for the fans too.
But for me, it's time to hit the hay. Thanks for joining and I will see you all soon.
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I have a feeling that Aston Villa fans will be watching this video on repeat for a very long time.
Some may have already seen it two or three times.
Tonight will go down in history for this great football club, and here it is for all of you to see over and over again.
A night Villans will never forget.
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David James, former Aston Villa goalkeeper, speaking to BonusZonderStorting:
I can imagine that [winning the Europa League] will spur him on to have more success with Aston Villa. I don't think this is just a Europa League and leave play.
I think he's got himself in a position where for once Aston Villa fans believe that they could have sustained success. And therefore I think he'll be given the opportunity. I mean the payday from the Champions League should allow him to sort of bolster the squad.
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John McGinn, Aston Villa captain, on TNT Sports:
I can't believe it to be honest. What we've been through as a club, this club is close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. V Sports bought the club over. Their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League and back to the levels of before. Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions - I cant describe it.
We started well. I'm biased, but we have a great set piece coach in Austin MacPhee. We tried to deceive a bit with the set piece. We did it against liverpool at the weekend. Youri [Tielemans] has great quality to find the goal. It'd have been over the bar if it were me!
It means a lot. As a kid growing up I remember Celtic in 2003. It wasn't a great night for them but it was special. I was lucky enough to go the final at Hampden in 2007. To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It's the proudest night of my career.
I'll try to enjoy it. I like to party but I'll take it easy to try and soak it all in. Being 31, in my first European final, I've seen my mates [Andy] Robertson and [Jack] Grealish win. It's my turn. It's so special, I'll cherish every minute.
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By Nkele Martin
Aston Villa were great tonight, weren't they?
They have ended a 44-year drought, and four of their midfield five were superb: John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Emi Buendia.
All three goals were either scored or assisted by the quartet, who were consistently bright on both ends of the pitch.
Tielemans broke the deadlock with a THUMPING finish, made two key passes across the match, and won 8 out of 11 duels.
Rogers found the Belgian from the corner flag and recorded 94% pass accuracy before tapping in Villa’s final goal.
McGinn was his usual self for the Villans, an engine on the pitch and picking out Buendia before half.
And, finally, Buendia was terrific. A goal and an assist capped off an amazing performance by the Argentine.
I mean, just look at his footwork leading up to Rogers final goal.
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I have just laughed a lot.
They were just talking about Prince William with John McGinn on TNT Sports, and the Villa captain joked that he hopes the royal 'is down' for a free bar tonight.
It got brushed over by the presenter, and I don't know why because that is just great craic.
I'm sure he will want to have buckets of beer with you, John.
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Aston Villa are well and truly back.
Under Unai Emery, Villa have come a long ol' way, but despite their progress, there was always one thing that was missing from his tenure here, and that was a trophy.
Now they have that silverware camel off their back, are back in the Champions League, and it feels like this is by no means the end of this journey. In fact, it might just be the start.
Remember, only eight years ago, this Villa were in the Championship after a rancid few years, perhaps some of the worst in the club's history. It's crazy to think that, given where they are.
It's been quite a journey, and since Emery took over the wheel, they have gone back to their best.
Exciting times for the Villans.
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There aren't many better in Europe than Unai Emery.
And yes, I know what you are all going to say: 'this is only the Europa League'. But I'm sorry, do you know how hard it is to win this triphy once, let alone five times. It's crazy.
No manager has won more major European finals than Unai Emery; he's now level with Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, and Giovanni Trapattoni.
Not bad company, eh?
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By Tom Collomosse At The Tupras Stadium
Unai Emery gathered his Aston Villa players in a circle around him and stood on the centre spot. As they prepared for their final training session at Tupras Stadium in the early-evening Istanbul sunshine, Emery needed to know they were ready. The drill itself was relatively light – an 11-a-side match at low intensity – but Emery had wanted to look each player in the eye and see they were focused on the challenge ahead.
One of Emery’s great bugbears is players who cannot make an impact from the bench. He does not understand why some sulk when left out of the starting XI, when they should be concentrating on delivering during the game. Did all his players – not just the starters – have the fire in their eyes? Tonight he had his answer – a fifth Europa League title for the Spanish coach and the first for Villa, whose win over Freiburg ended a 30-year trophy drought.
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I think it's time for me to let the pictures do the talking. Just look how much it means.
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Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa goalscorer, on TNT Sports:
It's hard to put into words, we've worked so hard for this. We've delivered and come through. It's a great moment for the fans, great for the club. We'll go down in history. There was so much excitement. We're all really excited.
The manager has been banging on at me to get easier goals and get into the box. I'm happy I could get a toe onto it and score. I'm tired but not that tired. It's all worth it in the end.
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Beautiful, just beautiful.
We are the Champions by Queen has just come on over the speakers as the players celebrate with the trophy. What a banger of a tune, I just love it.
The fans do, too, and are belting it out from the top of their lungs in the stands. There are a lot of emotional people in those seats, and many tears are being shed.
They won't want this night to ever end; they will want to stay in that stand until they have to be physically dragged out by security.
This is the best night of those fans' lives!