Aston Villa managed to secure their place in the Europa League final in early May, and the opportunity to win their first major trophy since 1996 will present itself on May 20 against Freiburg.
The path to the final was not straightforward given Unai Emery's side were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest, though fans were treated to an impressive 4-0 home win in the second leg on May 7.
Villa will contest the final at Besiktas' ground Besiktas Park – also known as Tupras Stadium – in Istanbul, a stadium that is renowned for its fervent home support.
It will perhaps come as a mercy that Emery's men will not be met by Besiktas' home crowd in the final, and the neutral environment could be perfect for the visiting Premier League club.
There will no doubt be a strong contingent of Aston Villa fans heading over to Istanbul to watch the match, and with so much to learn about the city, read on as Football Ground Guide covers all you need to know about your away day in Istanbul.
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballgroundguide.com%2Fmain%2F2025%2F09%2FBesiktas-Park.jpg "Away fans' guide to Istanbul: Key information for Aston Villa fans 1")
How many Aston Villa fans are going to Besiktas Park?
Besiktas Park boasts a capacity of 37,500, but fans will have to ready themselves for disappointment, with Villa having been given an allocation of 10,758 general admission seats. That allocation includes disabled and easy access areas, and some with a restricted view.
As for eligibility, all tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis from the UEFA Ticket Portal, and the first group able to claim a ticket will be 2025-26 season ticket holders, 2025-26 season ticket holders, hospitality season ticket holders and general admission+ season ticket holders who attended 12 or more Europa League matches this season.
For more detailed information on how to purchase tickets, Football Ground Guide offers an in-depth look here.
Full fans' matchday guide for Freiburg vs Aston Villa
Where to eat & drink for Aston Villa fans in Istanbul
A trip to Istanbul for football isn't as hostile as it once was, and most places are now welcoming to English supporters, provided you are respectful.
Some of the best places to eat and drink in Istanbul for football fans include:
- Corner Irish Pub – Asmali Mescit Mesrutiyet Cd. No:11/A Galatasaray, 34430 Beyoglu/Istanbul
- Red River Pub – Hoca Pasa, Hudavendigar Cd. No:44, 34110 Fatih/Istanbul
- Ritim Roof – Huseyinaga, Sahne Sk. No:20, 34435 Beyoglu/İstanbul
How to get to Besiktas Park: Guide for Aston Villa fans in Istanbul
There are a number of ways to travel to the stadium, depending on where you are staying in Istanbul, and the best is arguably by public transport before completing your journey on foot.
Some recommended routes include taking the metro to Taksim (M2) before taking a 10 minute walk to the stadium, boarding the special matchday ferry service operating between Eminonu, Kabatas (for the stadium) and Besiktas before walking or using T1 to Kabatas, though that service is expected to be busy on matchday. However, this service will be extremely busy on matchday.