Aston Villa is on the cusp of a major European victory, but they've hit a bump - goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been nursing an injury to his right hand. According to reports from Istanbul, Martinez's goalkeeping coach, Javi Garcia, spent a couple of minutes taping one of his fingers. He continued to warm up with his right goalie glove in his left hand.
And yet, in a twist that will give Villa fans hope, Martinez is now back in training. He's got his glove back on and is practicing claiming crosses from coaches and the other goalkeepers. This isn't the first time Villa has faced goalkeeper woes in a European final. In 1982, Jimmy Rimmer went into the European Cup final with a sore neck and was substituted after nine minutes. Nigel Spink then had a stellar game.
The match against Freiburg represents a historic occasion for both teams. Villa has won two European trophies in their history, but Freiburg has never won a major trophy. They're looking to make the most of their first Europa League final appearance. The German team has played four matches against English opposition - all of them against West Ham in the 2023-24 Europa League. They lost three out of the four games.
Villa's boss, Unai Emery, is a four-time Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal. His team is looking to ride on his experience to secure a win. The match is being held at Beşiktaş Stadyumu, and kick-off is at 8 pm BST.
"Really loud … full of Villans everywhere … really excited … I’m sure they’ll be really loud all night … such a fantastic club … finally got itself back in European football … we’ve got a great opportunity to give the fans what they deserve, a trophy back to Villa Park … we know what a big test it is … we’re playing a really competitive team … we believe in Unai Emery … we watched one video today and one last night … it was an hour and a half, though!" said Matty Cash, Villa's defender, in an interview with TNT Sports. He didn't hide his excitement about the match.
As for the team lineups, Villa's starting XI remains unchanged from their win over Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Viktor Lindelof is keeping his place in midfield, and Amadou Onana is on the bench. Freiburg's lineup includes Atubolu, Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu, Eggestein, Höfler, Beste, Manzambi, Grifo, and Matanovic. They're looking to make a strong impression.
The referee for the match is François Letexier from France, and the VAR is Jérôme Brisard, also from France. They're experienced officials who won't tolerate any foul play.
Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emi Martinez has an injury scare, but he's back in training. The match is being held at Beşiktaş Stadyumu, with kick-off at 8 pm BST. Unai Emery is a four-time Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal. Freiburg has never won a major trophy and has played four matches against English opposition - all against West Ham. Villa's starting XI remains unchanged from their win over Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
The stage is set for an exciting match, with Villa looking to secure their third European trophy. Freiburg is seeking to make history. With Emery's experience and Villa's recent form, they're favorites to win. However, Freiburg's determination to make the most of their first Europa League final appearance could lead to a thrilling encounter. They won't give up easily, and Villa can't afford to take them lightly.