Aston Villa secured their third consecutive Champions League victory with a 3-1 win over Norwegian side Viking FK at Villa Park, maintaining their flawless start in the competition. Goals from Ross Barkley and Emiliano Buendía, alongside a second-half own goal, kept Unai Emery’s side near the top of the European standings.
Dominant Opening Period
Aston Villa established control from the outset against opponents who had held Bayern Munich to a draw in their previous fixture. Early opportunities fell to Nicolas Jackson, who missed two free headers in the opening minutes, while makeshift right-back João Gomes saw a deflected cross strike the crossbar.
The home side took the lead when 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye delivered an inswinging corner that Ross Barkley met with a firm header past Viking goalkeeper Arild Østbø. Shortly after, Emiliano Buendía missed two opportunities before earning a chance from the penalty spot.
Referee Sebastian Gishamer awarded the spot-kick after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check confirmed a foul by Viking captain Zlatko Tripic on Alysson inside the penalty area. Buendía converted the penalty 37 minutes into the match, marking his fourth goal in consecutive European appearances.
Second-Half Response and Looking Ahead
Viking showed greater intent after the restart, forcing Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki into saves from midfielder Tobias Moi and Tripic. However, Villa expanded their advantage when Alysson broke free down the flank and saw his low cross deflected into the net by recovering defender Henrik Heggheim.
The visiting side pulled a goal back through Peter Christiansen, who volleyed in Kristoffer Askildsen’s deep cross. Although initially flagged for offside, the goal was awarded following a VAR review.
Following the match, Viking co-manager Morten Jensen noted his team’s initial hesitation, stating, “The second half was much more like the Viking we want to be,” and added, “Maybe we had too much respect for them in the first half, they were all over us.”
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed satisfaction with his team’s focus, stating, “Collectively and individually we did a good job and some players also made a step forward in their confidence.”
The result extends Villa’s winning streak at home in European competitions to 12 matches, leaving them with nine points from three games as they prepare for an upcoming away fixture against Barcelona.
Source: Football | The Guardian
