Betting tips, odds and free bets (Europa League final predictions)

Freiburg vs Aston Villa preview

Premier League side Aston Villa and Bundesliga outfit Freiburg meet at Istanbul’s 42,684-capacity Tupras Stadium tonight knowing one of them will end the evening as Europa League champions.

It is Aston Villa’s first major European final since lifting the European Cup back in 1982 and potentially their first major trophy in 30 years following League Cup success in 1996.

Hopes are understandably high too, with Unai Emery’s side arriving as odds-on favourites to get the job done inside 90 minutes after seeing off Lille, Bologna and Nottingham Forest in the knockout rounds.

The Villans have been a ruthless and efficient machine throughout the competition, winning 12 of their 14 matches while scoring 28 goals and conceding just eight.

That impressive run also includes eight clean sheets – the most of any side in this season’s Europa League.

And perhaps it is no surprise Villa are on the brink of glory with Emery in charge. The Spaniard will take charge of a record-extending sixth Europa League final tonight, having already won the competition four times – more than any manager in its history.

Villa are also unbeaten in three previous trips to Istanbul, winning two and drawing one without conceding, while they have won four of their six meetings with Bundesliga opposition – including the 1982 European Cup final against Bayern Munich.

Following their thumping 4-2 win over Liverpool to secure Champions League qualification, Villa have now scored 10 goals across their last three matches and netted 4+ goals in four of their last eight games.

One slight concern will be their recent away form. Villa have won just two of their last nine on the road, keeping only one clean sheet and failing to score in three of those matches.

As for underdogs Freiburg, tonight marks the first European final in the club’s history.

They have never won a major trophy in their 122-year existence either, with their previous best Europa League run ending in the last 16.

Following a seventh-placed finish in the league phase, Julian Schuster’s side found another gear in the knockout rounds, scoring 3+ goals in four of their six matches to eliminate Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga.

Freiburg are also the first German side to reach the Europa League final since Eintracht Frankfurt lifted the trophy in 2021-22.

They head to Istanbul in excellent spirits too after a brilliant 4-1 win over RB Leipzig at the weekend secured a seventh-placed Bundesliga finish.

Freiburg vs Aston Villa odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Freiburg vs Aston Villa tips and betting predictions

Tip 1: Aston Villa win and over 3.5 goals

We’re backing Aston Villa to win with over 3.5 goals in the match at 4/1 with Betfair.

Led by Europa League specialist Unai Emery, Villa look worthy favourites following a superb campaign in the competition. The Villans have won 12 of their 14 Europa League matches this season, scoring a tournament-high 28 goals while also keeping the most clean sheets with eight.

They have already brushed aside Lille, Bologna and Nottingham Forest in the knockout rounds and arrive in flying goalscoring form after netting 10 times across their last three matches, including Friday’s 4-2 thrashing of Liverpool.

That attacking firepower could prove too much for Freiburg in the first European final in the club’s 122-year history. Goals also tend to follow the German side around, with 14 scored across their last three matches, while they have lost seven of their last 10 away games, conceding 19 goals in the process.

Bet: Aston Villa win and over 3.5 goals at 4/1 with Betfair

First goalscorer and correct score prediction

Freiburg vs Aston Villa

• First goalscorer: Ollie Watkins at 4/1 with Sky Bet

• Correct score: 1-3 at 12/1 with SBK

Tip 2: Ollie Watkins to score 2+ goals

Given we’re expecting Aston Villa to score a few tonight, it makes sense that talisman Ollie Watkins will be leading the charge.

After being left out of England’s squad for the March friendlies, Watkins has responded in the best possible way. The striker has scored 10 goals in all competitions since then, with four arriving across his last three starts – including a brace against Liverpool on Friday.

Watkins has also impressed in Europe this season, registering five goals and two assists in the competition so far.

He currently sits just two goals behind Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus and Ludogorets forward Petar Stanic in the Europa League scoring charts, so there is plenty of motivation to make another statement tonight – especially with Thomas Tuchel watching England’s attacking options closely ahead of the World Cup.

Bet: Ollie Watkins to score 2+ goals at 8/1 with Sky Bet

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