PREVIEW | SC Freiburg vs Aston Villa: team news, lineups, predictions (Europa League final 20/05)

In partnership with

Playmakerstats

·18. Mai 2026

PREVIEW | SC Freiburg vs Aston Villa: team news, lineups, predictions (Europa League final 20/05)

Aston Villa arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday night standing on the edge of something they have not felt for generations - a major European final with silverware within touching distance.

For Unai Emery’s side, it is more than just a match against Freiburg; it is a chance to close a 44-year gap and write a new chapter in the club’s history.

OneFootball Videos

Their journey here has had the feel of a team steadily growing into belief. The league phase laid the foundations, but it was in the knockouts where Villa really sharpened. Lille were brushed aside, Bologna followed, and then came the semi-final against Nottingham Forest - a tie that promised tension but ended in authority. After a narrow first-leg lead, Villa Park delivered the decisive moment, with John McGinn leading from the front in a 4-0 home win that swept them into the final with force.

There has been a sense in recent weeks that Villa are peaking at just the right time. A commanding 4-2 win over Liverpool secured Champions League football for next season and removed any lingering distraction. Suddenly, everything points towards this one night in Turkey.

At the heart of it all is Emery. A manager who treats this competition almost like familiar territory, he has already lifted the Europa League four times and brings a calmness that seems to have rubbed off on his players. Around him, Villa have found a rhythm - Ollie Watkins providing the goals, Morgan Rogers offering invention, and a collective discipline that has made them difficult to shake.

Freiburg, though, have earned their place in their own way. This is unfamiliar ground for the German side, their first European final, achieved through resilience and a fearless knockout run. They have nothing of Villa’s history at this level, but plenty of momentum and belief.

One night in Istanbul now stands between Villa and a long-awaited return to glory.

Predicted lineups

SC Freiburg: Noah Atubolu, Lukas Kubler, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, Philipp Treu, Nicolas Hofler, Max Eggestein, Jan-Niklas Beste, Johan Manzambi, Vincenzo Grifo, Igor Matanovic

Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Lamare Bogarde, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins

Unavailable

SC Freiburg

Yuito Suzuki - Injury
Patrick Osterhage - Knee Surgery
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh - Injury

Aston Villa

Boubacar Kamara - Knee Injury
Alysson Edward - Fitness

Last starting XIs

SC Freiburg ( vs RB Leipzig 2026-05-16): Noah Atubolu, Philipp Treu, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, Jordy Makengo, Nicolas Hofler, Max Eggestein, Jan-Niklas Beste, Johan Manzambi, Derry Scherhant, Igor Matanovic

Aston Villa ( vs Liverpool 2026-05-15): Emiliano Martínez, Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Lucas Digne, Victor Lindelöf, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendía, Ollie Watkins

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

Unai Emery has faced SC Freiburg on two occasions, recording only wins.

TEAMS

Away from home, Aston Villa currently have one win in their last six matches.
Away from home, Aston Villa come into this match having conceded in six consecutive games.
Away from home, Aston Villa come into this match on the back of four consecutive matches without a win.
Aston Villa come into this match on the back of four consecutive matches scoring.
Aston Villa come into this match on the back of three consecutive matches without defeat.
At home, SC Freiburg currently have two defeats in their last 24 matches.
At home, SC Freiburg come into this match having scored in seven consecutive games.
At home, SC Freiburg come into this match having conceded in four consecutive games.
At home, SC Freiburg come into this match on the back of five consecutive matches without defeat.
At home, SC Freiburg come into this match on the back of two consecutive wins.
SC Freiburg currently have one draw in their last 16 matches.
SC Freiburg come into this match having scored in five consecutive games.
SC Freiburg come into this match having conceded in nine consecutive games.

HEAD TO HEAD

SC Freiburg and Aston Villa have faced each other zero times; there is no advantage between SC Freiburg and Aston Villa: zero wins for each team in zero matches.
In the Europa League, the two teams face each other for the first time