Aston Villa and Freiburg meet at TuprasStadyumu on 20 May 2026 in the Europa League final, with Julian Schuster praising Villa’s "outstanding squad" yet insisting nerves are not an issue. Freiburg contest a first European final, while Villa return to showpiece continental action after a long wait.
Schuster stressed Freiburg’s belief before the match, pointing to the squad’s progress and unity. The head coach described the occasion as "very special" after Freiburg’s recent second-tier status, yet maintained that confidence levels inside the camp remain high despite facing Unai Emery’s experienced Aston Villa side.
Freiburg become the 16th German club to reach a major European final, and the first debutant from the country since Schalke in the 1996-97
UEFA Cup. Schalke defeated Inter on penalties that season after a 1-1 aggregate draw, a reminder that newcomers can handle such occasions.
This match is Freiburg’s second major final in club history. Freiburg previously reached the 2022 DFB-Pokal decider, drawing 1-1 with RB Leipzig before losing 4-2 on penalties. Schuster has overseen a strong period for the club, including fifth place in the 2023-24 Bundesliga, following second-division football as recently as 2015-16.
Villa arrive with next season’s Champions League spot already secure and a squad rich in attacking threats. Morgan Rogers has stood out in this Europa League campaign, leading the tournament for chances created, expected assists and touches in the opposition box, underlining the creative edge Freiburg must contain.
The Opta supercomputer favours Villa in its 10,000-match simulation model. Aston Villa receive a 56.5% chance of winning inside 120 minutes, while Freiburg’s victory probability stands at 19.4%. The numbers reflect Villa’s depth and Emery’s track record, though Freiburg’s players have treated the run as an evolving opportunity rather than a set target.
Emery manages a sixth major European final, all in the Europa League. The Spaniard has four titles, lifting the trophy with Sevilla in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 and with Villarreal in 2020-21, while losing the 2018-19 showpiece with Arsenal. This appearance moves Emery alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho for finals reached.
Villa also bring their own European history. This is only the club’s second major continental final, following the 1982 European Cup, when Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0. Only Manchester City have endured a longer gap between their first and second European finals, spanning from 1970 to 2021.
Schuster outlined his respect for Villa’s structure and organisation while underlining Freiburg’s faith in their own qualities. "Villa has an outstanding squad. It's incredible how they work in such harmony, and they have a clear plan in every individual phase of the match," Schuster told reporters. "It will be a huge and great challenge for us tomorrow. "
Unai Emery Julian Schuster#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/HXf9nyNwutUEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 19, 2026
Schuster added that Freiburg’s rise gives extra meaning to the tie. "It is very special. We've recently been in the second division and now are going to play a European final. I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there's so much quality. "
The coach also played down any sense of anxiety before kick-off. "I am not nervous, we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow. " The remarks frame Freiburg as underdogs who still carry optimism into the showpiece at TuprasStadyumu.
Midfielder Maximilian Eggestein voiced a similar message, while separating Emery’s past from present analysis. "We're aware that [Unai Emery] is the most successful coach in the history of the tournament, but that was with Sevilla and Villarreal, so we haven't analysed that – only his Aston Villa team is relevant to us," Eggestein said.
Eggestein detailed how Freiburg’s expectations grew during the campaign. "At the start of the competition, we didn't think we might end up playing in the final. It just happened that way. As the season went on, we started to believe that we could do it. We're very proud to be here, and we hope we can take that final step tomorrow and make our city very proud. "
