Freiburg 0 – 3 Aston Villa

Europa League champions Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul.

Competition king Unai Emery holds the trophy for the fifth time and the victory was celebrated by Villa fans – both at Besiktas Stadium and at home.

These supporters had waited 44 years to see their team in another European final, and beautiful, brilliant first-half goals from Youri Tielemans and Amy Buendia were worthy of the occasion.

Tieleman’s volley from Morgan Rodgers’ cross was a stunner to arrow into the box with textbook technique after a short corner. Buendia’s curling effort from the edge of the box was sweet moments later, curling into the top corner.

Freiburg didn’t know what hit them. There were few chances in the previous 41 minutes. On 58 minutes, it was all over when Buendia slipped in Morgan Rodgers’ cross at the near post. A Masterclass in Villa and Emery. Blown up by the Bundesliga team.

There should have been more goals. Amadou Onana headed John McGinn’s corner against the back post and then Buendia clipped the ball into the side-netting after Tielemans’ perfect pass played him out.

But Villa’s dominance was never in doubt after they hit the front. Captain John McGinn ran in midfield and Freiburg rarely threatened. Even when Johan Manzambi met a close-range header, Amy Martinez matched it with a stunning stop before the offside flag went up.

What a performance and what a season for Aston Villa. A European trophy to go with a guaranteed top-five in the Premier League has already guaranteed Champions League football for next year.

Emery has once again been crowned the competition he has mastered – and Aston Villa have displayed his fine transformation gloriously on the big stage over the past three-and-a-half years.

Now his villains join the legends of the 1982 European Cup in the club’s history books.

Emery: It’s really fantastic

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on TNT Sports:

“It’s something really fantastic.

“We played very seriously this year. So, so focused. I was telling them, ‘We need desire in this competition and you have to show on the field that you are the hero’. And they did that.

“This final is confirmation of how we are moving forward.”

McGinn: Proudest night of my career

Aston Villa captain John McGinn on TNT Sports:

“I can’t believe it. Seven years ago this club was right on the verge of being in bad shape. Nassef Souris bought the club and he had one concession: to get the club back into the Premier League and then try to compete at the level it used to be at.”

“Everything we built tonight came together.

“The pride I felt at 3-0 in 10 minutes, thinking ‘we’re European champions’ is something I can’t even describe.

“This is the proudest night of my career so far. I’m going to try to enjoy it. I like to party sometimes. I’m going to try to take it easy and soak it up.

“I’ve seen my mates win trophies – Andy Robertson, Jack Grealish – so it’s my turn tonight. Maybe not the biggest trophy they’ve won but it’s very special to me. I’ll treasure every minute.”

Rogers: We’ll go down in history

Morgan Rodgers speaking to TNT Sports:

“This is a great moment for the club. We will go down in history.

“The manager has been pushing me to get into the box and score easy goals, so I’m happy to have a finger on that.

“I’m tired but not that tired. It’s all worth it.”

Watkins: You dream it

Ollie Watkins speaking to TNT Sports:

“It was unbelievable to perform like that. We controlled the game and punished them.

“I’ve seen a lot of finals and set-pieces can be very important. It was very poor until the goal, but we did an incredible set-piece, fair play job for (set-piece coach) Austin McPhee.

“You dream of it. Unai was really calm in the build-up – sometimes he gets a bit anxious in the league. It sets the tone.”

What’s next for Aston Villa?

Aston Villa take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the Premier League, live Sky Sports.