Vincenzo Grifo leads Freiburg into the first European final in club history, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa looks to continue its Europa League tradition.
The curtain is beginning to fall on the European club season, and tonight’s UEFA Europa League Final promises a fascinating clash between two teams chasing history.
At Istanbul’s Beşiktaş Park, SC Freiburg faces Aston Villa FC for the Europa League trophy and a direct place in next season’s Champions League.
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. local time.
For Freiburg, this is already the biggest European night in club history. The German side, coached by Julian Schuster, has reached its first-ever continental final and will look to cap a dream run with a historic title.
Italian international Vincenzo Grifo starts on the left side of Freiburg’s attack and remains one of the team’s key creative leaders heading into the final.
On the other side stands a club with far greater European pedigree — and a manager who practically owns this competition.
Unai Emery is chasing a fifth Europa League title after previously lifting the trophy four times with Sevilla FC and Villarreal CF.
Now he has guided Aston Villa back to a European final for the first time since the club won the European Cup in 1982.
Villa’s squad also carries a strong Serie A flavor.
Former AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham begins on the bench alongside ex-Serie A players Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey.
Former Roma fullback Lucas Digne starts in defense, while longtime transfer target Jadon Sancho is also part of the broader story surrounding Villa’s rise.
Official Lineups
Freiburg (4-2-3-1):
Atubolu; Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu; Eggestein, Höfler; Beste, Manzambi, Grifo; Matanović.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):
Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Lindelöf, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.
One interesting historical detail: this is the first Europa League final since 2020 featuring two clubs that had never previously faced each other in official competition.
Back then, Sevilla FC defeated FC Internazionale Milano 3-2 in another memorable final.
Tonight, another new European story will be written in Istanbul.
