Villa tame Viking to stay perfect in Champions League

Aston Villa secured a perfect start in the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Norwegian side Viking on Wednesday, strengthening their push for a top-eight finish in the league phase. Ross Barkley opened the scoring midway through the first half with a header from Ibrahim Mbaye's corner, followed by a penalty scored by Emiliano Buendia in the 37th minute, awarded after a VAR review. An own goal from Henrik Heggheim shortly after the hour mark effectively sealed the win for Villa.

Villa's manager, Unai Emery, admitted his team played a cautious match, dominating the first half but softening in the second. Despite conceding corners, Villa maintained a better overall performance, leaving Emery content with the three points. The team's recent form has been impressive, with the new-look side winning all three of their Champions League matches since Emery's arrival, including a 3-2 victory against Club Brugge and a 6-0 win against Fenerbahce.

This turnaround comes after a slow start to the season, where Villa previously won only five out of six games across all competitions.

Viking experienced a similar struggle, drawing 3-3 with European champions Bayern Munich earlier in the week. Nicolas Jackson had two headers, both directed at Viking's goalkeeper Arild Ostbo, but failed to find the back of the net. The opening goal came in the 23rd minute, as Barkley rose to nod home Mbaye's corner. Villa extended their lead in the 37th minute when Zlatko Tripic was penalized for fouling Alysson, allowing Buendia to convert the penalty with ease.

The visitors made Villa work harder in the second half, nearly extending their lead but ultimately leaving the game without any other goals.

With this victory, Villa have positioned themselves well to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League, ensuring direct qualification for the knockout stage. The season has been a remarkable turnaround for Villa, as they finished fourth in the Premier League and won the Europa League, marking their first major trophy in 30 years.

Emery faced a significant rebuilding task after high-profile departures during the summer transfer window, but the team is rapidly shaping up with new signings such as Nicolas Jackson and Johan Manzambi.