For the first time in over four decades, Aston Villa are on the brink of European glory.

Manager Unai Emery and his team have already evoked the spirit of the club’s 1982 triumph in the old European Cup (today’s Champions League) by making a run to this season’s Europa League final. Now, they can finish the job.

Emery is the master of the Europa League, having won it four times as a manager and now made its final six times with four different clubs over the past 12 years. However, the Spaniard has yet to lift silverware as Villa manager. Victory over Freiburg on Wednesday would be symbolic of how far he has taken the club.

Freiburg embarked on their own memorable run to book a place in tonight’s showpiece in Istanbul, Turkey. The Germans have never won a major trophy in their 121-year history, making this match the biggest they have ever played.

At odds-on favourites, Villa are firmly fancied to get the better of their Bundesliga opponents and lift that Europa League trophy. Emery’s side are also 4/7 to win in 90 minutes, without the need for extra time or penalties.

Most of the statistics point to a Villa win.

They are strong at both ends of the pitch: no team have averaged more goals per match (2.0) in this season’s Europa League and they also boast its joint-best defensive record in terms of goals conceded per game (0.6).

Villa are 5/6 to score over 1.5 goals in this final and 5/2 to register over 2.5 goals which, considering their recent attacking form, could represent good value. Emery’s lads have found the back of the net a combined 10 times in their past three outings, against Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-Premier League semi-final and then Burnley and Liverpool back in the domestic top flight.

Ollie Watkins scored four goals in those games, hinting that the England international will continue his strong form by finding the back of the net in Istanbul, too. He is 7/5 to score at any time.

John McGinn might be the smart bet, though. Villa’s captain is in the form of his life, having bagged a brace in that second leg against Forest. The Scot also capped the scoring in the 4-2 defeat of Liverpool on Friday, and is 7/2 to add another against Freiburg.

If McGinn is the beating heart of this team, Morgan Rogers is their creator-in-chief. He leads this season’s Europa League for chances created, expected assists and touches inside the opposition box. He is 1/1 to score or assist at any time during the final.

Even if the Germans can frustrate Villa and make this match a cagey one, Emery’s team have scored eight times after the 76th minute in the Europa League this season — more than any of its other 35 sides. They have a strong record of pushing hard right to the end.

If Freiburg can nullify Villa in the centre of the pitch, they might stand a chance of producing an upset. Emery will be without the injured midfield pair of Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara, robbing the side of some valuable physicality. This will place an even greater onus on Youri Tielemens.

Freiburg will be without their Japanese playmaker Yuito Suzuki, who has been ruled out because of a collarbone injury. Only two players have created more chances for Freiburg this season, and his absence could limit their options in the final third.

Vincenzo Grifo has nine direct goal involvements in the 2025-26 Europa League. The Italy international left-winger will be tasked with exploiting the space behind right-back Matty Cash to destabilise the Villa defence and give Freiburg a foothold in the final third.

In midfield, Johan Manzambi has been a breakout star in this season’s Europa League and is leading the competition for possession wins, duels won and fouls won. He is the combative presence they will need in the centre of the pitch to prevent Villa controlling this match.

While Freiburg have shown their quality by seeing off Belgian side Genk, Spain’s Celta Vigo and Braga of Portugal in the previous three knockout rounds, it will take an even stronger performance to get the better of Villa tomorrow, such is the depth of the Premier League side.

Wednesday could be Villa’s most famous European night since 1982, and with Champions League qualification for next season already confirmed through their Premier League position, Emery and his players can fully focus on the task of getting their hands on some silverware.