Aston Villa are second in the Champions League standings after three matches, following a 3-1 win over Viking on 21 October at Villa Park.
Emi Buendía scored from the penalty spot eight minutes before half-time after Zlatko Tripic's foul on Alysson was reviewed by VAR.
Peter Christiansen scored in the 84th minute, ending Villa's run of two consecutive clean sheets and denying them a third straight clean sheet.
Aston Villa beat Viking 3-1 at Villa Park on 21 October, their third win from three in the Champions League and their fifth from six across all competitions this season. Unai Emery's side moved up to second in the Champions League standings after three matches. Viking had drawn 3-3 with Bayern Munich the previous week, while Villa had beaten Fenerbahce 6-0 a week before this game. Villa also won at Newcastle in between. Ross Barkley's goal was already his third of the competition.
Ross Barkley headed Villa in front in the 23rd minute, meeting a corner from Ibrahim Mbaye at the near post. Mbaye, who is 18, was asked to replicate the impact of Johan Manzambi, who was slightly injured. Viking goalkeeper Arild Ostbo had already turned away two Nicolas Jackson headers inside the opening 10 minutes. Villa's second goal came from the penalty spot. Zlatko Tripic was judged to have fouled Alysson in the box, and referee Sebastian Gishamer only pointed to the spot after a VAR review, having initially missed the incident. Emi Buendía converted the penalty eight minutes before half-time.
Viking came out more purposefully after the break, and Zion Suzuki caught a long-range strike from Tobias Moi in the 49th minute. Villa's third goal arrived in the 62nd minute, when Alysson's cross was turned into his own net by Henrik Heggheim. Alejandro Garnacho came on as a substitute and had a shot saved by Ostbo. Viking pulled a goal back in the 84th minute through Peter Christiansen, denying Villa a third straight clean sheet. The goal was first ruled offside before a VAR review allowed it.
Villa are second in the Champions League standings after three fixtures, and they remain unbeaten in the competition. Viking are the Norwegian champions, who ended a 34-year wait for the title. This was their first visit to Premier League opposition since 2002, when they lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Viking went into the match having drawn with Bayern Munich, and Villa had been expected to win comfortably after their run of results. Villa's win gave them their fifth victory from six matches in all competitions this season.
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Ross Barkley, Emi Buendía and an own goal from Henrik Heggheim gave Aston Villa a 3-1 win over Viking at Villa Park on 21 October. Peter Christiansen's 84th-minute goal was Viking's only reply.
AI text based on reports by Irish Examiner, The Independent, The Guardian and other publishers. Published .