The stage is set for the UEFA Europa League final between Aston Villa and Freiburg on Wednesday night in Turkey.
Aston Villa will look to end a 44-year wait for major European silverware when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final at Tüpraş Stadium, Istanbul.
On paper, Aston Villa are favourites against the German Bundesliga side, who are playing the biggest match in their history.
The last time Aston Villa won a major trophy in Europe was in 1982 when they won the European Cup, the first in their history, after beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final in Rotterdam
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has experience in the Europa League. The Spaniard has been in the Europa League final on six occasions.
The 54-year-old won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, while finishing runner-up with Arsenal in a 2019 defeat by Chelsea.
Emery’s side head to the game following a 4-1 aggregate win against Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals earlier this month.
They also defeated Liverpool 4-2 in the Premier League in their last game last Friday.
Aston Villa currently occupies the fourth position on the Premier League table behind Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Freiburg, on the other hand, defeated Braga 4-3 on aggregate in the last-4 stage to advance to the final, their first in the club’s history.
Julian Schuster’s side head to the game after thrashing RB Leipzig 4-1 in the Bundesliga last Saturday.
Freiburg currently sits in the seventh position on the Bundesliga table behind Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Speaking with DAILY POST ahead of the encounter on Wednesday, Saheed Afolabi, who works at Clear TV, gave his view on the Europa League final.
“It’s going to be a big encounter between Aston Villa and Freiburg because Freiburg are in seventh position in the Bundesliga table, while Aston Villa is in fourth position at the table in the Premier League,” Affolabi said.
“I will be tipping Aston Villa to go through and win the Europa League because of the calibre of players they have and their recent big win against Liverpool.
“For me, the win against Liverpool in the Premier League is a big statement that they will give their all against Freiburg.
“So, I expect Aston Villa to win the Europa League final,” he said.
