The UEFA Europa League final, Europe's second most important club competition, will take place at Besiktas Park in Istanbul at 10 PM local time. The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier, assisted by Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni. Jerome Brisard will serve as the video assistant referee, and Spanish official Alejandro Hernandez will be the fourth official.

BOTH TEAMS SEEKING FIRST-TIME CHAMPIONSHIP

Aston Villa and Freiburg are both competing in their first UEFA Europa League final. Aston Villa previously secured a historic victory in the 1981-82 European Cup Winners' Cup final, defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 with a goal by Peter Withe. They also won the UEFA Super Cup in 1982, defeating Barcelona 3-1. Freiburg, on the other hand, is making its first-ever appearance in a European cup final.

EMERY SEES OPPORTUNITY FOR FIFTH CUP

Unai Emery, the Spanish coach synonymous with the Europa League after winning it four times, aims to extend his record as the coach with the most cup victories. Emery, who has reached the final five times in the tournament, won it with Sevilla in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and with Villarreal in 2021. However, he lost the final with Arsenal in 2019. Julian Schuster, at 41, will lead Freiburg in his first final.