Archive for May 21, 2026
Aston Villa win Europa League 🏆
Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League and end a 30-year trophy drought.
First-half stunners from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia gave Villa control before Morgan Rogers’ strike sealed a second major European title 44 years after they won the European Cup (1982) and 30 years after their win of the League Cup (1996).
Aston Villa’s ultra-celebrity fan, the Prince of Wales, watched the final inside the Tupras Stadium. He celebrated their goals wildly and was seen wiping away tears of joy. After the game he posted a message that said: “Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!” He added: “UTV! [Up the Villa] VTID [Villa till I Die] W.”
The architect of Villa’s success, Manager Unai Emery, now has won the Europa League five times with three different clubs (Sevilla 2014, 2015 and 2016; Villareal 2021, and now Aston Villa). He replaced Steven Gerrard in November 2022 with Villa three points above the relegation zone and has transformed them into top five contenders and, now, a European champion. He has overseen a momentous change for the club who, 10 years ago, were relegated from the Premier League for the first time and in 2009 and 2010 eliminated from the Europa League by Rapid Vienna.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez revealed he broke his finger during the warm-up, but managed to play the entire match. The 33-year-old did not have much to do, but still managed to make two saves.
He said: “Today I broke my finger during the warm-up and for me, every bad thing brings something good. I’ve done this my whole life and I’ll keep doing it.“ The former Arsenal keeper has now won every final he has played in during his career, including the FA Cup final, the World Cup final, two Copa Americas and now the Europa League.
Southampton expulsed from Championship Play-offs 👉🏻
Middlesbrough will play Hull in the EFL Championship play-off final on Saturday. An EFL independent disciplinary commission on Tuesday evening expelled Southampton from the play-offs and reinstated Middlesbrough, who had lost 2-1 to the Saints on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Southampton admitted spying on three rivals’ training sessions – including Boro before the semi-final first leg – but had appealed against their expulsion, calling it “manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game”.
However, the EFL has rejected Saints’ appeal and upheld the punishment.
EXTRA TIME 
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