Aston Villa beat Viking to maintain perfect Champions League start

BIRMINGHAM, Oct 22 — Aston Villa thrashed Norwegian side Viking 3-1 on Wednesday, extending their flawless start to the Champions League and boosting their chances of securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. Midway through the first half, Ross Barkley put the home team ahead with a well-nodded goal, followed by a penalty conversion by Emiliano Buendia in the 37th minute, with Zlatko Tripic earning the spot kick after a VAR review.

Viking briefly mounted a late comeback, equalizing through an own goal from Henrik Heggheim shortly after the hour mark. However, Villa sealed the win with a consolation goal in the final moments. "We played a very safe match," Villa boss Unai Emery commented post-match. "First half we dominated, we were feeling comfortable. The second half we started not like the first half and conceded some corners.

In 90 minutes overall we were better and dominated more than less." Emery's new-look squad has now claimed victories in all three Champions League matches since Unai Emery took charge, including a 3-2 win against Club Brugge and a 6-0 drubbing of Fenerbahce.

The victory marks a significant turnaround in Villa's season, with the team now boasting five wins from six games across all competitions, following a sluggish start to the year. Viking had previously drawn 3-3 with six-time European champions Bayern Munich. Nicolas Jackson contributed two headers for Villa, while Zlatko Tripic earned his penalty, which Buendia converted with ease.

Villa's dominant display from the outset, coupled with early goals from Barkley and Buendia, secured the win and highlighted the club's resurgence this season. Villa concluded the 2025/26 Premier League season in fourth place and lifted the Europa League for the first time in 30 years. Under new manager Emery, Villa has undergone a substantial overhaul following the summer transfer window, with new signings such as Nicolas Jackson and Johan Manzambi bolstering the squad.