Aston Villa avoid using kit fans are convinced is ‘cursed’ for Europa League final

Aston Villa have informed fans of the kit they will be wearing their third kit for the Europa League final against Freiburg.

Villa will make the trip to Istanbul as they seek a first piece of European silverware since 1982, with the showpiece clash happening next Wednesday.

Getty - Contributor

“Aston Villa can confirm our 2025/26 adidas third kit will be worn in the UEFA Europa League Final in Istanbul,” a statement read on the club’s official website.

Villa also announced they will wear the white shirt rather than their traditional claret and blue or the black away shirt due to a kit colour clash with their German opponents.

“The shirt, selected due to a kit clash with SC Freiburg’s traditional all-red colours, will be adorned with a special Match ID to mark the occasion and will bear the name of the Aston Villa Foundation as the front of shirt sponsor,” the club continued.

Freiburg are permitted to wear their home shirt as they are the designated ‘home team’ for next week’s clash in Turkey.

Villa fans will at least be thrilled that the team is not wearing their black away kit, which some are convinced is ‘cursed’.

Indeed, supporter went to great lengths on X to determine Villa’s win rate when wearing each kit.

The fan’s findings show that having worn the black away shirt eight times this season, Unai Emery’s side have won only twice as they beat Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in January and Bologna in the Europa League last month.

In addition, Villa have lost four of the eight games, and drawn the other two.

Conversely, they have an impressive win ratio of 66 per cent with the home shirt, winning 22 of 33 matches.

And with the third kit, which Villa have sported it 12 times this season. They have won four times, drawn four times and lost four times wearing it.

Getty

So while it’s not quite as good as wearing the home kit in Istanbul next week, it’s certainly better than donning the away shirt in their bid for glory.

Villa remain well-placed to secure a Champions League finish regardless of their Europa League final outcome.

The Midlands side sit fifth in the Premier League, level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool.

A fifth-placed finish is enough to secure automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League this term due to the Premier League’s ranking in the UEFA coefficient.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool: talkSPORT coverage

And the pair face off at Villa Park on Friday, and talkSPORT will have exclusive live coverage of this monster Premier League match-up.

Commentary will be coming from Jim Proudfoot and former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.