Why Aston Villa are wearing white for Europa League final tonight instead of ‘cursed’ kit

Aston Villa will be wearing their third kit for the Europa League final against Freiburg tonight.

Villa are in Istanbul as they seek a first piece of European silverware since 1982.

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But Unai Emery’s men won’t be wearing their traditional claret and sky blue home colours.

“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 claret and blue home kit 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 tonight’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 23 of 34 matches.

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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.

So while it’s not quite as good as wearing the home kit in Istanbul, 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 fourth in the Premier League, three points clear of Liverpool after beating them 4-2 last time out.

Europa League Final live on talkSPORT

Villa vs Freiburg will take place this evening – Wednesday, May 20 – with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.

talkSPORT will have live commentary from Istanbul as Adrian Durham, Andy Townsend and Gabby Agbonlahor present coverage from 7pm.

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