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ACC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more  Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.The conference tournaments.While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:1. Georgia Tech (25-5)2. North Carolina (22-8)3. Florida State (19-11)4. Boston College (18-14)5. Miami (16-14)6. Wake Forest (16-14)7. Virginia Tech (15-15)8. Virginia (14-16)9. NC State (14-16)10. Notre Dame (13-17)11. Louisville (13-17)12. Stanford (13-17)13. California (12-18)14. Pittsburgh (11-19)15. Clemson (10-20)16. Duke (10-20)What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.ACC baseball tournament schedule and scoresHere is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.First Round: Tuesday, May 19Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)Second Round: Wednesday, May 20Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., EasternGame 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., EasternGame 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., EasternGame 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., EasternQuarterfinals: Thursday, May 21Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., EasternGame 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., EasternQuarterfinals: Friday, May 22Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., EasternGame 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., EasternSemifinals: Saturday, May 23Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., EasternGame 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., EasternChampionship: Sunday, May 24Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern  #ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

ACC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more

Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.

The conference tournaments.

While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.

Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.

What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?

All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.

The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:

1. Georgia Tech (25-5)
2. North Carolina (22-8)
3. Florida State (19-11)
4. Boston College (18-14)
5. Miami (16-14)
6. Wake Forest (16-14)
7. Virginia Tech (15-15)
8. Virginia (14-16)
9. NC State (14-16)
10. Notre Dame (13-17)
11. Louisville (13-17)
12. Stanford (13-17)
13. California (12-18)
14. Pittsburgh (11-19)
15. Clemson (10-20)
16. Duke (10-20)

What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:

Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?

We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.

The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).

However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.

All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First Round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)
Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern

#ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.

The conference tournaments.

While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.

Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.

What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?

All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.

The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:

1. Georgia Tech (25-5)
2. North Carolina (22-8)
3. Florida State (19-11)
4. Boston College (18-14)
5. Miami (16-14)
6. Wake Forest (16-14)
7. Virginia Tech (15-15)
8. Virginia (14-16)
9. NC State (14-16)
10. Notre Dame (13-17)
11. Louisville (13-17)
12. Stanford (13-17)
13. California (12-18)
14. Pittsburgh (11-19)
15. Clemson (10-20)
16. Duke (10-20)

What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:

Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?

We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.

The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).

However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.

All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First Round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)
Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern

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#ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

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Europa League final gives Unai Emery chance to extend remarkable record in competition <div id="content-body-71001818" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.</p><p>His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.</p><p>Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.</p><p>Spot a pattern?</p><p>If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.</p><p>Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.</p><p><b>READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/arsenal-wins-premier-league-after-22-years-how-gunners-won-epl-under-mikel-arteta/article71001494.ece#google_vignette" target="_blank">Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?</a></b></p><p>“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.</p><p>“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”</p><p>Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.</p><p>This is its first European final.</p><p>“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on May 20, 2026</p></div> #Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition

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Deadspin | Ivan Herrera blast helps rescue Cardinals against Pirates <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/29003725.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/29003725.jpg" alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">May 19, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) hits a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Ivan Herrera’s three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th lifted the host St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Herrera’s three-run home run — a 410-foot blast to left center field — off Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery (1-1) was the fourth home run of the game for the Cardinals, who won for the fourth time in their past five games and dealt the Pirates their fourth consecutive loss.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Nolan Gorman, JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson all hit home runs as well.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Herrera’s heroics followed a single by Wetherholt that put runners at the corners and advanced the ghost runner, Victor Scott II, to third.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>George Soriano (2-0) retired the Pirates in order in the top of the 10th, stranding Brandon Lowe at second.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Pirates trailed 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth before loading the bases with no outs on Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien. Marcell Ozuna grounded into a double play, which allowed Nick Gonzales to score. Spencer Horwitz then tied the game with a two-out single to score Konnor Griffin.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>Gorman’s go-ahead, two-run home run off Pirates reliever Evan Sisk with two outs in the bottom of the sixth came after Pittsburgh rallied from a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a game-tying two-run double by Bryan Reynolds and a go-ahead RBI single by Oneil Cruz.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>But the Cardinals started their comeback when Pirates starter Mitch Keller hit Burleson with a pitch with one out. Two batters later, Sisk replaced Keller and surrendered the 437-foot blast to center field by Gorman.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Matthew Liberatore started for the Cardinals and struck out nine. But Liberatore lasted only 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and Lowe scored their first run on a wild pitch by Liberatore, who then struck out Griffin.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>But Reynolds leveled the game by belting a ball to left field to score Jared Triolo and Gonzales. After Ozuna walked, Cruz drove in Reynolds.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Keller went 5 2/3 innings, allowed four runs on four hits and one walk and struck out three.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Ivan #Herrera #blast #helps #rescue #Cardinals #Pirates

Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.

His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.

Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.

Spot a pattern?

If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.

Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.

READ: Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?

“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.

“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”

Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.

This is its first European final.

“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”

Published on May 20, 2026

#Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition">Europa League final gives Unai Emery chance to extend remarkable record in competition  Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.Spot a pattern?If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.READ: Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.This is its first European final.“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”Published on May 20, 2026  #Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition

Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?

“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.

“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”

Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.

This is its first European final.

“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”

Published on May 20, 2026

#Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition">Europa League final gives Unai Emery chance to extend remarkable record in competition

Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.

His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.

Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.

Spot a pattern?

If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.

Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.

READ: Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?

“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.

“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”

Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.

This is its first European final.

“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”

Published on May 20, 2026

#Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition
Deadspin | Merrill Kelly pursues encore as D-backs try to sweep Giants  May 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images   Merrill Kelly will attempt to earn a spot in franchise lore alongside the likes of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling when he goes for a second consecutive complete game Wednesday afternoon as the Arizona Diamondbacks chase a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants in Phoenix.  The Diamondbacks have gone to both extremes to claim the first two games of the series, easing to a 12-2 victory in the opener before thrilling their fans who stuck around with a four-run rally in the ninth inning to claim a 5-3 walk-off triumph in the rematch.  Arizona has won four of its past five games, a run that began with Kelly’s gem on Friday in Colorado. He went the distance, allowing four hits, in a 9-1 win over the Rockies.  The complete game was his first in 178 career starts. At age 37, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game at Coors Field.  “It was a great moment,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Kelly’s strikeout of TJ Rumfield that completed his 100-pitch effort. “This is what you work hard for in the offseason … so you can go out there and throw a CG. Doesn’t happen a lot in baseball anymore.”  Kelly (3-3, 5.91 ERA) was just the fourth pitcher in the majors to throw a complete game this season, joining Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, Seattle’s George Kirby and Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. They have since been joined by Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez and the Athletics’ J.T. Ginn.  Only three pitchers threw two complete games in 2025 — Houston’s Framber Valdez, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee and Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo.  The last major league pitcher to throw consecutive nine-inning complete games was Corey Kluber, who did so in August 2017 for Cleveland.  Only six pitchers have thrown back-to-back complete games in Diamondbacks history. Johnson and Schilling did it four times apiece, with Johnson twice pushing his streak to three games. Brandon Webb did it three times, and Omar Daal, Brian Anderson and Shawn Estes achieved the feat once each.   The most recent was Webb in August 2007, when his streak stretched to three starts.  Kelly has made 21 starts in his career against the Giants, going 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA.  The veteran will go up against right-hander Tyler Mahle (1-5, 5.59), a teammate last season with the Texas Rangers after Kelly was dealt from Arizona at the trade deadline.  Mahle has pitched brilliantly with nothing to show for it in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA despite having allowed just 16 hits while striking out 40 in 30 innings.  The Giants will have to overcome the emotional impact of having blown a 3-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth less than 24 hours earlier. It was San Francisco’s fourth walk-off defeat of the season.  Manager Tony Vitello, who brought in left-hander Matt Gage to face Ketel Marte, forcing the switch hitter to bat right-handed, took the heat for the defeat. Marte delivered a game-ending three-run homer on Gage’s second pitch.  “I made the wrong decision and it cost us the game,” Vitello said at his postgame press conference, referring to the call to replace Caleb Kilian, not the choice of Gage. “It’s on me.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Merrill #Kelly #pursues #encore #Dbacks #sweep #GiantsMay 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Merrill Kelly will attempt to earn a spot in franchise lore alongside the likes of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling when he goes for a second consecutive complete game Wednesday afternoon as the Arizona Diamondbacks chase a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants in Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks have gone to both extremes to claim the first two games of the series, easing to a 12-2 victory in the opener before thrilling their fans who stuck around with a four-run rally in the ninth inning to claim a 5-3 walk-off triumph in the rematch.

Arizona has won four of its past five games, a run that began with Kelly’s gem on Friday in Colorado. He went the distance, allowing four hits, in a 9-1 win over the Rockies.

The complete game was his first in 178 career starts. At age 37, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game at Coors Field.

“It was a great moment,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Kelly’s strikeout of TJ Rumfield that completed his 100-pitch effort. “This is what you work hard for in the offseason … so you can go out there and throw a CG. Doesn’t happen a lot in baseball anymore.”

Kelly (3-3, 5.91 ERA) was just the fourth pitcher in the majors to throw a complete game this season, joining Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, Seattle’s George Kirby and Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. They have since been joined by Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez and the Athletics’ J.T. Ginn.

Only three pitchers threw two complete games in 2025 — Houston’s Framber Valdez, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee and Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo.

The last major league pitcher to throw consecutive nine-inning complete games was Corey Kluber, who did so in August 2017 for Cleveland.


Only six pitchers have thrown back-to-back complete games in Diamondbacks history. Johnson and Schilling did it four times apiece, with Johnson twice pushing his streak to three games. Brandon Webb did it three times, and Omar Daal, Brian Anderson and Shawn Estes achieved the feat once each.

The most recent was Webb in August 2007, when his streak stretched to three starts.

Kelly has made 21 starts in his career against the Giants, going 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA.

The veteran will go up against right-hander Tyler Mahle (1-5, 5.59), a teammate last season with the Texas Rangers after Kelly was dealt from Arizona at the trade deadline.

Mahle has pitched brilliantly with nothing to show for it in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA despite having allowed just 16 hits while striking out 40 in 30 innings.

The Giants will have to overcome the emotional impact of having blown a 3-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth less than 24 hours earlier. It was San Francisco’s fourth walk-off defeat of the season.

Manager Tony Vitello, who brought in left-hander Matt Gage to face Ketel Marte, forcing the switch hitter to bat right-handed, took the heat for the defeat. Marte delivered a game-ending three-run homer on Gage’s second pitch.

“I made the wrong decision and it cost us the game,” Vitello said at his postgame press conference, referring to the call to replace Caleb Kilian, not the choice of Gage. “It’s on me.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Merrill #Kelly #pursues #encore #Dbacks #sweep #Giants">Deadspin | Merrill Kelly pursues encore as D-backs try to sweep Giants  May 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images   Merrill Kelly will attempt to earn a spot in franchise lore alongside the likes of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling when he goes for a second consecutive complete game Wednesday afternoon as the Arizona Diamondbacks chase a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants in Phoenix.  The Diamondbacks have gone to both extremes to claim the first two games of the series, easing to a 12-2 victory in the opener before thrilling their fans who stuck around with a four-run rally in the ninth inning to claim a 5-3 walk-off triumph in the rematch.  Arizona has won four of its past five games, a run that began with Kelly’s gem on Friday in Colorado. He went the distance, allowing four hits, in a 9-1 win over the Rockies.  The complete game was his first in 178 career starts. At age 37, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game at Coors Field.  “It was a great moment,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Kelly’s strikeout of TJ Rumfield that completed his 100-pitch effort. “This is what you work hard for in the offseason … so you can go out there and throw a CG. Doesn’t happen a lot in baseball anymore.”  Kelly (3-3, 5.91 ERA) was just the fourth pitcher in the majors to throw a complete game this season, joining Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, Seattle’s George Kirby and Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. They have since been joined by Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez and the Athletics’ J.T. Ginn.  Only three pitchers threw two complete games in 2025 — Houston’s Framber Valdez, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee and Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo.  The last major league pitcher to throw consecutive nine-inning complete games was Corey Kluber, who did so in August 2017 for Cleveland.  Only six pitchers have thrown back-to-back complete games in Diamondbacks history. Johnson and Schilling did it four times apiece, with Johnson twice pushing his streak to three games. Brandon Webb did it three times, and Omar Daal, Brian Anderson and Shawn Estes achieved the feat once each.   The most recent was Webb in August 2007, when his streak stretched to three starts.  Kelly has made 21 starts in his career against the Giants, going 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA.  The veteran will go up against right-hander Tyler Mahle (1-5, 5.59), a teammate last season with the Texas Rangers after Kelly was dealt from Arizona at the trade deadline.  Mahle has pitched brilliantly with nothing to show for it in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA despite having allowed just 16 hits while striking out 40 in 30 innings.  The Giants will have to overcome the emotional impact of having blown a 3-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth less than 24 hours earlier. It was San Francisco’s fourth walk-off defeat of the season.  Manager Tony Vitello, who brought in left-hander Matt Gage to face Ketel Marte, forcing the switch hitter to bat right-handed, took the heat for the defeat. Marte delivered a game-ending three-run homer on Gage’s second pitch.  “I made the wrong decision and it cost us the game,” Vitello said at his postgame press conference, referring to the call to replace Caleb Kilian, not the choice of Gage. “It’s on me.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Merrill #Kelly #pursues #encore #Dbacks #sweep #Giants

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