On Wednesday night (20), Aston Villa won the Europa League title – the second-tier European tournament, behind the Champions League. In a single-game decision held at Besiktas Park, in Istanbul, Turkey, the English team prevailed over the German team and triumphed 3-0.
It was the first relevant continental cup for the traditional Birmingham club since winning the 1981/82 Champions Cup – as Europe’s main competition was then called. And the first major glory since the English League Cup in 1995/96.
In the decision in Istanbul, Villa built a good lead in the first half, with goals from Tielemans, in the 40th minute, and Buendía, in the 47th minute. Rogers closed the scoring in the 12th minute of the final stage. From then on, it was just management.
Spanish coach Unai Emery reached his fifth victory in the Europa League. He had already won three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
In this way, the possibility of English teams taking the European competitions at all three levels is maintained. Next week, Crystal Palace will decide the Conference League, in the third level, against the Spanish Rayo Vallecano. And, on the 30th, Arsenal will compete for the icing on the cake, the Champions League, with French side Paris Saint-Germain
