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Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots he faced, and the Hurricanes set off a Stanley Cup celebration with a heavy presence of their fans who made the trip here, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist, and Taylor Hall and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Carolina, which finished the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 16-3 record.

Rod Brind'Amour was the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup championship team, and has been Carolina's coach since 2018-19. He's the seventh person in NHL history to win the Cup with the same franchise as a player and a coach, and fourth to do it as captain and coach.

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in the playoffs, including six goals in the Final.

“It’s amazing,” Staal said. “What a battle, what a feeling. So many individual efforts to keep the puck out of the net. I’m so proud of these guys.”

Carter Hart made 20 saves, but the Golden Knights lost their third straight game to end the season. They had a 2-1 lead in the series, but Carolina outscored them (12-5) in Games 4-6.

Hall put the Hurricanes ahead 1-0 at 3:47 of the first period, scoring with a far-side shot from the left face-off circle that he got off before Noah Hanifin could close on him. The shot went under Hart's left arm and over his left pad.

Blake forced a turnover by Brett Howden at the Carolina blue line. The puck went to Jaccob Slavin, who looked up and saw Hall behind the Vegas defense. The stretch pass connected and Hall did the rest.

Bussi kept it 1-0 by stopping Howden on a breakaway at 11:39 of the first period. Hart did the same at 2:49 of the second, when he made a blocker save on Staal after the Carolina captain got in alone.

The Hurricanes went up 2-0 at 13:31 of the second, when Blake scored on a one-timer from just inside the right circle off a pass from Logan Stankoven.

Jack Eichel rang a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle off the crossbar late on a power play with 9:30 remaining in the third period. Bussi had no stick at the time.

Vegas pulled Hart for the extra skater with three minutes remaining. Bussi made three consecutive saves, including one on Tomas Hertl off a rebound as he was sitting in the crease.

In a Game 5 of the NBA Finals Saturday night that looked much like the previous four, the San Antonio Spurs took a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

But like in three of the previous four games, the Knicks rallied — this time from a 16-point deficit — to secure a 94-90 Game 5 win and a 4-1 series victory in the NBA Finals.

Jalen Brunson led the way with a legacy-securing 45-point effort as New York’s only reliable source of offense on a night in which both teams struggled from the field. But for New York, the win didn’t have to be pretty. The result is the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973. And Brunson has secured his place among New York’s sporting greats.

Brunson helped the Knicks chip away at an early 31-15 deficit by making his first three 3-point attempts of the game. In the third quarter, he hit three free throws after drawing a foul on a 3 to give the Knicks an 86-85 lead, their first of the second half. From there, the Knicks held on to win a tightly contested battle down the stretch.

Per Opta Stats, Brunson is the second player in NBA history to score 45 points on the road in a championship-clinching victory. The other was Michael Jordan in 1998 against the Utah Jazz to secure a sixth NBA title for the Chicago Bulls.

When the final horn sounded following a desperation missed 3 by San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, a swarm of Knicks fans who’d traveled to San Antonio to watch the closeout game celebrated in the San Antonio stands. And fans at watch parties back home across New York City celebrated in the streets.

Knicks players, meanwhile, were overjoyed on the court, finally able to exhale after securing three gritty NBA Finals wins prior Saturday’s Game 5 clincher. Karl-Anthony Towns, whose legacy-altering effort as a focal point of New York’s offense in the playoffs, cried tears of joy as he shared a post-champinoship embrace.

Brunson shared the moment with his father and Knicks assistant, Rick Brunson on a night when he scored 45 of New York’s 94 points in a championship-securing win.

Brunson scored 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter and hit multiple buckets down the stretch to lead the Knicks back from a 75-65 deficit early in the stanza. No other Knick scored more than 14 points, and only four tallied double figures.

Brunson was at a loss for words when met by ESPN’s Lisa Salters on the court for a postgame interview.

“I’ve got no words,” Brunson said after a long pause, with tears in his eyes. “It’s everything I ever dreamed of.

“I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m just, like, I’m in awe. I don’t know. Whenever someone counted us out, we find a way to come back and do something about.”

Key moments

6': Havertz rifles Arsenal into early lead 65': Dembélé levels from penalty spot 77': Kvaratskhelia effort deflects against post 89': Vitinha curls on to roof of net Pens: Eze, Nuno Mendes, Gabriel fail to convert

Match in brief: Paris hold nerve to retain crown The Gunners, fresh from winning their first English Premier League title for 22 years, wasted no time in taking the lead. Leandro Trossard charged down a clearance and Kai Havertz, scorer of the only goal in the 2021 final for Chelsea against Manchester City, strode clear before hammering his finish high past Matvei Safonov from a tight angle.

The holders were unruffled and dominated the reminder of the first half but the Arsenal defence, superbly marshalled by Gabriel and William Saliba, allowed no clear-cut chances and Paris' frustrations were highlighted by Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué firing over with rare strikes from outside the area. Mikel Arteta's side could even had doubled their advantage but for a last-ditch block from Marquinhos to deny Havertz a second goal.

Arsenal had only conceded six goals heading into the decider and knew a record-equalling tenth clean sheet of this campaign would bring them a first title, but Cristhian Mosquera felled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the area after a neat exchange of passes and Dembélé sent David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore parity.

Luis Enrique's side continued to probe patiently but it was a counterattack that provided their next moment of threat, Kvaratskhelia driving into the area and firing an effort that deflected against the upright. Vitinha and substitute Gonçalo Ramos found the roof and side of the net respectively with late chances but extra time could not be avoided.

The pattern of the contest continued – swathes of Paris possession but little goalmouth action – and a first penalty shoot-out in the decider since 2016 was the outcome.

There, Eberechi Eze swept wide and Nuno Mendes immediately saw his effort saved by David Raya before the last, and decisive moment, of the shoot-out, Gabriel firing over to ensure Paris became the first side to retain the trophy since Real Madrid in 2018.

Line-ups Paris: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos (Zabarnyi 106), Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Fabián Ruiz (Zaïre-Emery 95), Vitinha (Lucas Beraldo 106), João Neves; Doué, Dembélé (Gonçalo Ramos 90+6), Kvaratskhelia (Barcola 83)

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera (Timber 66), Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Rice, Lewis-Skelly (Zubimendi 91); Saka (Madueke 83), Ødegaard (Gyökeres 67), Trossard (Martinelli 83); Havertz (Eze 91)

PlayStation® Player of the Match: Vitinha (Paris) "Vitinha was Paris' best player on the night. He took charge of the midfield, particularly in the second half, driving his team forward and setting the tempo. An excellent performance from the Portuguese midfielder." UEFA Technical Observer Group

Alex Clementson, Paris reporter After going down so early on, Paris had to muster the courage and fortitude that has begun to characterise this campaign. Luis Enrique's side stuck to their convictions, rooted in their mastery of the ball and their interpretation of time and space. They gained the foothold, but ultimately this Arsenal defensive unit proved too stoic a barrier to break down in normal or extra time. Shoot-outs are a lottery, they say, and in this case luck was on their side.

Joe Terry, Arsenal reporter In the end, it was a clash of styles: Paris' attack versus Arsenal's defence and ultimately they were so finely balanced, that nothing could separate them. Not many teams can keep Paris to so few chances, especially as they had so much possession. All the qualities that Mikel Arteta has instilled and cultivated in this squad: fight, willpower, a sense of the collective. This is what has brought them this far. Everyone associated with Arsenal will take great pride from what they have seen tonight.

Reaction Désiré Doué, Paris forward: "We are so, so proud tonight. So happy, so grateful, also because it was a tough game against a very good team. So we have to congratulate them because they had a really good season. But now we just have to enjoy as a team, as a family, because I think we deserve it."

Gonçalo Ramos, Paris forward: "It was very difficult. We have a lot of personality and we showed we are ready for everything."

More to follow

Key stats This was the 12th European Cup or Champions League final to go to penalties. Neither Arsenal nor Paris had previously been involved in one in the final. The last 11 Champions League finals had been won by the team scoring the first goal, since Real Madrid came from behind to beat Atlético de Madrid 4-1 in 2014. Paris equalled Barcelona's single season record (1999/2000) for goals scored in a campaign from the group stage/league phase with 45. Luis Enrique won his third Champions League final as a coach, having previously led Barcelona to the title in 2015 and Paris last season – only Carlo Ancelotti with five has more. Luis Enrique became the first Spanish coach to win back-to-back European Cup/Champions League titles since José Villalonga, who achieved the feat with Real Madrid in 1955/56 and 1956/57. Ousmane Dembélé has scored six goals in his last four Champions League appearances. Kai Havertz became the third player in the Champions League era to score in two finals for two different clubs (Chelsea and Arsenal) after Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Real Madrid) and Mario Mandžukić (Bayern and Juventus). Velibor Vasović (Partizan and Ajax) also managed the feat in European Cup finals. Havertz's sixth-minute goal was the fastest in a Champions League final since Mohamed Salah's second-minute goal for Liverpool against Tottenham in 2019.

What's next?

Paris will take on UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on 12 August.

Key moments

25' Alemão puts the first serious chance wide 39' López misses from the edge of the box 45+1' Mitchell heads pinpoint cross off target 51' Mateta forces in rebound to open scoring 56' Pino free-kick hits both posts but stays out 57' Batalla denies Mateta a second

Match in brief: Mateta makes the difference

Oliver Glasner spoke of Rayo's ability to press hard and dupe opponents into putting the ball just where they wanted it and the Spanish side's powers of suggestion seemed to work in the first half.

Alemão flicked Pep Chavarria's cross wide on 25 minutes, and Unai López then drove beyond the same upright when Álvaro Garcia presented him with the ball on the edge of the box. The Eagles then snatched at the best first-half opening, the busy Tyrick Mitchell making an imperfect headed connection with Adam Wharton's added-time cross.

Palace then sprang a surprise early in the second half, Wharton taking the ball forward and shooting from the edge of the box when a pass looked more likely. Augusto Batalla got down to block, but the lurking Jean-Philippe Mateta was perfectly placed to force the rebound in.

However, another loose ball went begging soon afterwards, no one able to get the final touch after a Yeremy Pino free-kick cannoned off both posts, and Palace were quickly thwarted again, Batalla defying Mateta as he bore down on goal.

Rayo sprang back off the ropes and Palace battled to keep them at arm's length in the closing stages. Iñigo Pérez's side kept up the pace and tried – not without success – to cause panic in the English side's penalty area. Clean hits, though, were hard to come by and when Alemão crashed wide in the final moments, the game was up.

Laufenn Player of the Match: Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) The UEFA Technical Observer panel said: "He created the goal and the other two biggest chances for Palace. Displayed good positional awareness for the Eagles during a tough midfield battle."

Reporter verdict: Charlotte Richardson, Crystal Palace Palace are Conference League champions in their very first major foray into European football. Mateta pounced to score the most important goal in the club's history and Oliver Glasner reigns supreme again, having claimed the club's first major trophy last season in the FA Cup final. His final 90 minutes in charge deliver a scoreline the Eagles will savour for some time.

Reporter verdict: Gonzalo Aguado, Rayo Vallecano It wasn't to be for Rayo. A solitary goal from Mateta in the second half denies them their first European title. Iñigo Pérez's side gave it their all, but they unfortunately will not be returning to Vallecas with the Conference League trophy. Even so, they can be very proud of the season they have had and of having filled the whole of Vallecas with excitement and joy.

Reaction Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace forward: "I feel fantastic! I feel fantastic! We did it! First time in Europe and we did it. Now I just want to celebrate. We gave everything. I told you about the intensity they will have and I am tired right now, I gave everything. That's why we won today."

Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace midfielder and Player of the Match: "I missed out on the FA Cup celebrations last year so I'm definitely going to make up for that this year. I can't put this feeling into words, it’s incredible. You can see what it means to south London and the fans, it’s incredible."

Tyrick Mitchell, Palace midfielder: "We played 60 games this season and so many of our bodies are not used to it. There was a few times where we weren't winning, but if it all meant that we got here and won it we would do it all over again. It's the same feeling that we had when we won the FA Cup; pure delight, pure emotion and we are just so happy we got it over the line."

Key stats Palace have won the trophy in their debut season in a major UEFA competition. Their only previous participation was the 1998 Intertoto Cup campaign, which ended in their opening tie in the third round. Palace are the third English club – all from London – to win the Conference League final, after West Ham (2022/23) and Chelsea (2024/25). Palace are the 12th different English club to win a major UEFA men's club competition after Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Ipswich Town, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham. Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt 2021/22, Palace 2025/26) and Yeremy Pino (Villarreal 2020/21, Palace 2025/26) have now played on winning sides in both the Europa League and the Conference League finals. Line-ups Crystal Palace: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Riad; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta (Strand Larsen 76), Pino (Guessand 80)

Pajor had previously suffered defeat in her previous five final appearances with Wolfsburg and Barcelona. But although OL, seeking a ninth title from their record 12 finals, had the better of the first half, Pajor struck twice to take her competition-leading tally for the season to 11, and Salma Paralluelo added her own double late on to seal Barcelona's fourth title.

Key moments

14' Cata Coll saves Renard header 41' Barcelona keeper stops Bacha free-kick 55' Pajor gives Barcelona lead 69' Pajor strikes again 90' Salma Paralluelo stunner increases lead 90+3' Salma Paralluelo scores her second

Match in brief: Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo pounce

Caroline Graham Hansen was passed fit to start for Barcelona in her home city of Oslo, while Vicki Becho took injured Kadidatou Diani's place on the right of the OL attack, with Wendie Renard keeping up her record of appearing in all 12 of the French club's finals. Graham Hansen created the first clear chance, a low cross which Alexia Putellas could not force on target.

Soon after Renard, who first scored in the final 15 years ago against Turbine Potsdam, nearly repeated the trick with a header from Selma Bacha's free-kick but Cata Colll saved, and Lindsey Heaps was offside as she turned in the rebound. Pajor came close with a chip at the other end.

Jule Brand pulled the ball back for Ada Hegerberg, a scorer in four previous OL final wins including two against Barcelona, but the Norwegian forward's strike was blocked by Alexia. Cata Coll did well to get across to stop a swerving Bacha free-kick, but Barcelona did not have a shot on target in the first half, having never failed to score before the break previously in their ten-game run.

However, ten minutes into the second half Barcelona were ahead with their first shot on target; Pajor sent clear by Patri Guijarro and nervelessly slotting past Christiane Endler to get her competition-leading tenth goal of the season.

Barcelona nearly saw their lead disappear immediately as Lily Yohannes back-heeled into the path of Becho, whose shot was tipped past the post by Cata Coll.

OL now turned to Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Tabitha Chawinga, but they were soon 2-0 down as an Esmee Brugts cross ran across, via a touch from Clàudia Pina, to the far post where Salma Paralluelo cut back for Pajor to turn in.

Aitana Bonmatí, who only made her injury comeback late in the semi-finals a few weeks ago, came on for Barcelona, but OL Lyonnes had the next chance when Chawinga was sent clear, but could not beat Cata Coll.

Barcelona could truly begin their celebrations in the 90th minute, when Salma Paralluelo picked up the ball just outside the box, took a couple of steps forward, and smashed in a superb finish. And they increased soon after when Pajor broke free and unselfishly suppled Salma Paralluelo to dink the ball past Endler.

Vodafone Player of the Match: Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)

"A great impact. The first touch and finish for her first goal were of the highest quality, while she was heavily involved in the build-up to her second, taking up a great position to score. She was dangerous in positional play and a constant threat, supplying an assist for the fourth as well." UEFA Technical Observer Group

Andrea De Ferrater, Barcelona reporter

Barcelona continue to make history and reclaim the crown with a fourth Women’s Champions League title. After a hard-fought first half, Barça took control after the break, with Ewa Pajor playing a pivotal role on the biggest stage. This generation simply does not stop winning or competing, and the maturity and mentality within the squad have taken them to another level. For Pajor, tonight in Oslo will forever be unforgettable – the night she finally lifted her first Champions League trophy.

Zacharie Adjemien, OL Lyonnes reporter

OL Lyonnes fall short in Oslo despite another courageous display on the European stage. Against the same opponents who denied them in the 2024 final, Les Fenottes once again fought to shift the balance of the contest, reigniting belief among the OL support. Barcelona, however, proved pragmatic and efficient when it mattered most, ultimately preventing Jonatan Giráldez’s side from reclaiming the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy. Congratulations to Barcelona, who are worthy champions once again on the continental stage.

Reaction

Pere Romeu, Barcelona coach: "You get a sense of release off your shoulders, you think about everything it has cost to get this far, and you value having won it even more – and having won it the way we won it. Even though we pulled away on the scoreboard, it was a real team match. Cata saved us in a couple of situations, then we scored and we kept pushing. I'm very happy."

Jonatan Giráldez, OL Lyonnes coach: "It was a match where neither team created many chances. We were very solid defensively, especially in the first half. But Barcelona were extremely clinical in the final third. Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo were outstanding. Once the game became more open because of the scoreline, we tried to add more attacking players to create more opportunities, but we were unable to find the goal we needed."

Ewa Pajor, Barcelona forward and Player of the Match: "I'm grateful. This is amazing; the best day of my life. I've played in six finals and finally, in Oslo, we did it. I am very proud and very thankful. From the start to the end, it was a hard game but we did so, so well. We fought for the win and that's what this team does every day, fight to be the best team in the world."

Caroline Graham Hansen, Barcelona forward: "I guess most people will say this is a dream come true but it wasn't a possible dream when I grew up. But here I am bringing the trophy home with beautiful Barcelona, with all our beautiful fans, making this a fantastic final and also being on the winning side. It's a dream scenario."

Alexia Putellas, Barcelona captain: "I got emotional because, in the end, everything turned out perfectly, just as we hoped. It was the game plan; we knew that in the second half they were going to leave spaces, and what we had allowed in the first half couldn't happen again, and that's how it went. I'm very happy to be here and to have lifted a fourth Champions League."

Christiane Endler, OL Lyonnes goalkeeper: “It was a very even match. We controlled the first half, then in the second they were much more efficient than us. We did not take the chances we had, and they did. At the end, when you are trying to score, you naturally leave more space and become exposed on the counterattack. But we played well until the goals. I’m disappointed with the result because I don’t think it was a fair reflection of the match.”

Key stats

Pajor ended as competition top scorer on 11 goals, two ahead of Arsenal's Alessia Russo, having previously also done so while with Wolfsburg in 2022/23. Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen took the pitch for Barcelona in all four of their final wins. Barcelona equal Frankfurt's tally of four titles, only OL on eight have more. Barcelona were appearing in an unprecedented sixth straight final, beating the record of OL, who stretched their own unmatched tally of appearances overall to 12. These two teams were meeting in a fourth final (equalling the record of OL vs Wolfsburg); OL won in 2019 and 2022, and Barcelona in 2024 and now 2026. Wendie Renard has played in all 12 of OL's finals, three more than any other player in the competition's history, and in a span of 17 seasons (there have only been 25 UEFA women's club seasons). OL's Jonatan Giráldez was head coach in a record-equalling fourth final, having led Barcelona in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was facing former assistant Pere Romeu. Line-ups

Barcelona: Cata Coll; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Mapi León, Brugts (Camara 85); Serrajordi (Aitana Bonmatí 72), Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas (Kika Nazareth 85); Graham Hansen (Clàudia Pina 62), Pajor, Salma Paralluelo

Match in brief: Villa sparkle as Emery works magic again Coming into this showpiece, Freiburg were dreaming of winning a first major title in the club's history, while Villa were seeking their first silverware in 30 years.

The other main subplot was the opportunity for decorated Villa coach Unai Emery to win a record-extending fifth Europa League – and with a third different club.

Given the high stakes, it was perhaps not surprising that the game took a while to settle down in front of a vibrant atmosphere at the spectacular Beşiktaş Park, with both teams displaying early signs of nerves.

After a series of half-chances came and went for both sides, it took a moment of magic to spark the game into life provided by Villa's midfield maestro Youri Tielemans.

After 42 minutes, the Belgian latched onto a pinpoint cross from Morgan Rogers from a short corner to power a superb volley past goalkeeper Noah Atubolu and give the English side the lead.

Freiburg were rocked, and just before the break things got worse. There looked to be little danger when Emiliano Buendía received the ball from just outside the box, but the Argentinian forward shifted the ball onto his left foot and bent a stunning effort into the far corner to double the lead with the last kick of the half.

The confidence was flowing through Villa in the second period, and Buendía worked his magic again for their third just before the hour, jinking his way down the left wing before crossing for Rogers to apply a simple finish at the near post.

It was millimetres away from being four for Unai Emery's side as Amadou Onana headed against the post from John McGinn's corner, and that was the end of the action as Villa settled for three.

Freiburg put in a valiant effort but ultimately fell short. They will hope to bounce back on the European stage when they participate in the Conference League play-offs next season.

For Villa, though, this turned into a night they will never forget, as coach Emery worked his magic again to continue his remarkable love affair with this competition.

Hankook Player of the Match: Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) The UEFA Technical Observer panel said: "It was a quality performance. He was very good between the lines, played good passes throughout and led the team's attacking intensity. Capped off with a great goal and assist."

Reporter verdict: Judith Tuffentsammer, Freiburg Freiburg went into their first European final as the clear underdogs and fell to an Aston Villa side that were clinical in the right moments. Everything unravelled shortly before the break, and although in the second half Freiburg attempted to come back, it wasn't quite enough. Still, they have their heads held high after an incredible run to this match in Istanbul, as well as Conference League qualifiers on the horizon in 2026/27 – where the final, by the way, will again be played here at Beşiktaş Park.

Reporter verdict: John Atkin, Aston Villa Thirty years of hurt never stopped them dreaming. Villa's 30-year wait for a major trophy ends on a night that will live long in the memory for the fans of a claret and blue persuasion. The first 40 minutes were pretty even, but from the moment Tielemans drilled in the opener there was only one likely winner, despite the best endeavours of Freiburg – who, like their supporters in Istanbul, never let up. Emery's love affair with this competition knows no bounds.

Reaction

Youri Tielemans, Aston Villa midfielder, speaking to TNT Sports: "We put in a shift, a top performance. We had a great season, and to top it off with this – it's amazing."

Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa forward, speaking to TNT Sports: "It's hard to put into words; we've worked so hard for this. We knew we had one more game to give our all in, and we all delivered. It's a great moment for the fans and the club, and we'll go down in history."

Ezri Konsa, Aston Villa defender, speaking to TNT Sports: "To finally bring back some silverware for this club and the fans is amazing. It's something I can't really describe. They've been through thick and thin – this is for them."

Unai Emery, Aston Villa coach and the competition's most successful manager, speaking to TNT Sports: "We played in a very serious way this year – so, so focused, and of course, the players – they showed their desire. I told them we need desire in this competition and to show it on the field. On the field, you are the protagonists, and they did it." Julian Schuster, Freiburg coach: "Congratulations to Aston Villa – they've been great all season. Both teams fought hard from the start, and aside from one [Morgan] Rogers chance, neither team created much. We knew set pieces would make a difference, and actually, we created the first; then we fell behind to a perfectly-played situation. In that instance, you have to stay calm, but then came the second goal and then we struggled. One became two, two became three."

Vincenzo Grifo, Freiburg captain, speaking to RTL: "You have to honestly admit that Aston Villa were the better team. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to trouble them today. They were very clinical and very experienced in everything they did. We never really managed to put them under pressure and, because of that, I think it was a deserved win for Aston Villa."

Key stats Villa have become the 31st different winners of the UEFA Cup/Europa League, and the sixth from England. They are the third new victors in the last six seasons, along with Atalanta in 2023/24 and Emery's Villarreal in 2020/21. Emery has become the first coach to win this tournament with three different teams. They all have 'villa' in their name: Sevilla (three times), Villarreal and Villa. English clubs have now won the last seven men's club finals played against German opposition. Villa finished as the tournament's top scorers with 31 goals, six more than second-placed Freiburg. Freiburg's Julian Schuster missed out on being the first German coach to win the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League since Franz Beckenbauer with Bayern in 1996. Freiburg were the third German team to participate in the Europa League final in the last five seasons. Line-ups Freiburg: Atubolu; Kübler (Makengo 73), Ginter, Lienhart (Rosenfelder 61), Treu; Eggestein, Höfler (Höler 61); Beste (Günter 86), Manzambi, Grifo (Scherhant 73); Matanović