The UEFA Europa League final is officially set, with Aston Villa preparing to face Freiburg in a showdown that promises to be historic for both clubs.

After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg against Nottingham Forest, the side managed by Unai Emery produced a sensational response at Villa Park, overwhelming their opponents with an explosive attacking display to secure their place in the final.

Ollie Watkins opened the scoring following a moment of brilliance from Emiliano Buendia. The Argentine playmaker tore through the Forest defence with a dazzling solo run before setting up Watkins for a composed finish that ignited the home crowd.

Not long afterwards, Buendia doubled the advantage himself from the penalty spot, capping another influential performance in one of Aston Villa’s biggest European nights in recent memory.

With Nottingham Forest forced to push forward after the break, spaces began to open everywhere — and Aston Villa showed no mercy. Captain John McGinn delivered the knockout blow late in the game, scoring twice within three devastating minutes as the hosts punished Forest repeatedly on the counter-attack.

The emphatic victory sends Aston Villa into their first European final since 2001 and continues the remarkable resurgence under Unai Emery, whose reputation as a European specialist only continues to grow.

Awaiting Villa in the final will be Freiburg, who completed a dramatic comeback of their own in the other semi-final against Braga.

2025-26, Europa League

Aston Villa - Nottingham Forest 4:0 (1:0)
Goals: Watkins, 36 (1:0); Buendia, 57 (penalty) (2:0); McGinn J., 77 (3:0); McGinn J., 80 (4:0)

Aston Villa: Martinez E.; Lindelöf (Bogarde L., 74); Konsa; Digne; Torres Pau (Mings, 90); Cash; McGinn J. (Bailey, 90); Tielemans; Watkins; Buendia (Sancho, 86); Rogers M. (Douglas Luiz, 90)
Substitution: Bogarde L. (from 74); Sancho (from 86); Mings (from 90); Douglas Luiz (from 90); Bailey (from 90)
Bench: Bizot; Wright J.; Maatsen I.; Elliott H.; Andrés García; Abraham T.

Nottingham Forest: Ortega S.; Williams N.; Morato F. (Bakwa, 71); Jair Cunha (Murillo, 88); Milenković; Anderson E.; Dominguez N.; Hutchinson (Sinclair J., 88); Mcatee (Yates, 46); Wood C. (Lucca L., 71); Igor Jesus
Substitution: Yates (from 46); Bakwa (from 71); Lucca L. (from 71); Murillo (from 88); Sinclair J. (from 88)
Bench: Sels; Sangaré I.; Gibbs-White; Ndoye D.
Yellow Cards: Morato F. 18; Jair Cunha 45