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The 54-year-old Basque had already lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla in 2014, 2015 and 2016, before guiding Villarreal to the title in 2021.
Emery could make history with a win
Were he to triumph with the Villans, he would make history by becoming only the fourth manager to win five European titles after Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Giovanni Trapattoni.
Not to mention it would be Villa's first European trophy in 44 years, and their first silverware (Play-Off final success notwithstanding) since their 1996 League Cup final victory over Leeds United.
Freiburg's home European form - seven wins in seven games at Europa-Park Stadion with 17 goals scored and 3 conceded - might've given the Premier League outfit cause for concern, but in all competitions, the Bundesliga side had lost three of their most recent six matches, winning two and drawing the other. Though they'd scored 11 goals in that run, they'd also conceded 12.
Villa's most recent six results were a virtual mirror image: three losses, two wins, one draw, 11 goals scored and eight conceded.
Fast start from both sides
Therefore, the game appeared to be set up perfectly for an enthralling encounter between two teams who were evenly matched.
It got off to a fast start with Freiburg's Ivan Matanovic heading wide in the opening minute, before Villa's Morgan Rogers had the first effort on target from either side just a few minutes later.
As the match began to settle down, Villa eased into a smooth passing game, with Rogers (93.8% pass completion) and Ezri Konsa (93.2%) particularly impressive in this regard.
Matty Cash was lucky to stay on the pitch after a nasty challenge only earned him a yellow card, and that reprieve helped him to go on and win exactly half of all of his aerial and ground one-on-one duels, whilst also winning possession back on three separate occasions in what was a battling individual performance.
Villa on top
Freiburg weren't offering anything as a creative or attacking force, ceding 67% collective possession to the Villans in the opening half hour.
Their first effort on target from Johan Manzambi didn't arrive until the 34th minute, and to give some perspective on just how poor they were going forward, that was one of only two efforts they'd get on target in the entire game.
Villa poured forward at every opportunity, and with Rogers having three attempts on his own, it appeared to be a matter of time before the English side took the lead.
When they did so, the goal was a work of art.
Tielemans and Buendia score sensational goals
A clearly rehearsed move from a corner left Youri Tielemans completely unmarked just inside the area, and Rogers' perfectly delivered cross was hammered home on the volley by the Belgian.
Julian Schuster's side were completely under the cosh for the remainder of the half, and after three efforts were spurned, Emi Buendia then bent his attempt into the top corner to leave Freiburg keeper, Noah Atubolu, grasping at thin air. If anything, Buendia's finish was even better than Tielemans' stunner.
Although three of Freiburg's back four won 100% of their tackles, as a cohesive unit, they were consistently picked apart by a relentless Villa attack.
Freiburg offering nothing up front
Trying to get service into their front men was virtually impossible for the Germans, and Niklas Beste's paltry four passes in the first half spoke volumes for how ineffective they were.
Only Matthias Ginter was offering anything approaching an acceptable showing, contesting 11 one-on-ones, posting a 92.3 % pass completion stat and making six final third entries, the second-most of all Freiburg's players.
Unfortunately for him and manager Schuster, far too many of his colleagues weren't on the same wavelength. After three further efforts for Villa directly after half-time, Rogers ended the game as a contest when he got in front of his marker to squeeze Buendia's centre home.
It was perhaps inevitable that the Villans would then take their foot off the gas, but even with 69% collective possession over the next quarter hour, Freiburg rarely threatened.
Totally deserved victory for the Villans
With Matanovic (50%), Manzambi (74.1%) and Vincenzo Grifo (77.1%) posting woeful pass completion figures, there was never any real chance for the Bundesliga side to build up a head of steam, and the final half hour of the game was an absolute procession for Villa.
Indeed, it was Amadou Onana, just a few minutes after coming on as a sub, that could've been the next on the score sheet, though his effort would rattle the woodwork.
Ultimately, Freiburg just didn't turn up on the biggest stage. Four shots in total were far less than Villa's 17, as were their two on target when the Premier League side managed six.
Though Freiburg just shaded overall possession (50.7% to 49.3%), total passes (366 to 356) and accurate passes (309 to 306), that's as much to do with Villa's easing down the gears in the latter stages as anything else.
It's a win that the Villans totally deserved, and their reward is a place back in the Champions League next season.
