Aston Villa vs Viking: Perfect home record meets visitors’ travel troubles in Champions League clash
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Unstoppable: The Villans are firing on all cylinders
It hasn't been one of the best starts for Aston Villa in the Premier League this season. They have struggled to get the ball rolling and currently find themselves occupying 12th place in the table with eight points. This has them four points behind the European places.
Over the weekend, a positive result was recorded. A Johan Manzambi strike in the 36th minute saw the team secure a narrow 1-0 away win over Newcastle United. It was their second win in three games, meaning they have begun to find some consistency after a difficult opening to the campaign.
Despite their domestic setbacks, the Villans have shown reliability on the European stage. Last term, Unai Emery's charges conquered Europe by winning the UEFA Europa League. That accomplishment ended a 44-year wait for major European silverware.
Now, the Birmingham outfit are competing in Europe's top tier after a one-year absence. So far, it has been an impressive start to the current campaign, with back-to-back wins that see them rubbing shoulders with the elite in the top eight. Three points here could see them occupy the top spot.
Current standings in the UEFA Champions League:
| Position | Team | MP | W | D | L | G | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 3 | 3 | - | - | 14:5 | 9 | 9 |
2 | Liverpool | 3 | 3 | - | - | 12:7 | 5 | 9 |
3 | Stuttgart | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 7:2 | 5 | 7 |
4 | Aston Villa | 2 | 2 | - | - | 9:2 | 7 | 6 |
5 | Barcelona | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 11:6 | 5 | 6 |
6 | Manchester City | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 9:5 | 4 | 6 |
7 | Sporting Lisbon | 2 | 2 | - | - | 5:1 | 4 | 6 |
8 | Arsenal | 2 | 2 | - | - | 4:0 | 4 | 6 |
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that the Villans' most recent outing in this competition was a display of utter dominance. The victims were Turkey's giants Fenerbahce, and never did they envision being mauled 6-0. Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley did the most damage as they each scored twice.
The triumph over Fenerbahce was marked down on paper as their biggest-ever margin of victory in any European competition.
For starters, that outcome was recorded at Villa Park. This venue has been their stronghold, especially in European competitions, where they've now won 11 straight matches to become just the third English side to achieve this kind of feat. Also, it marked their first home win of the season after navigating three games without a win in the Premier League (D1, L2).
Aston Villa's last five home matches in European competition:
- 14 October 2026 (UEFA Champions League - League Phase): Aston Villa 6-0 Fenerbahce
- 07 May 2026 (UEFA Europa League - Semifinals): Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest
- 16 April 2026 (UEFA Europa League - Quarterfinals): Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna
- 19 March 2026 (UEFA Europa League - Round of 16): Aston Villa 2-0 Lille
- 29 January 2026 (UEFA Europa League - League Phase): Aston Villa 3-2 Salzburg
Can the Raiders do the impossible on English shores?
The Norwegian champions who clinched the Eliteserien for the first time in 34 years last term are just seven games away from defending their title. Merely because they sit second in the table shouldn't raise any concerns. With 56 points in 23 games, they are level on points with Bodo/Glimt at the summit.
Their run has been impressive, as a 3-2 home victory over Fredrikstad FK on Saturday extended the team's winning run to four matches. They are now eight matches without defeat in domestic action since a 2-1 away defeat to Rosenborg in the Eliteserien.
The Dark Blues, however, have failed to build on this momentum on the European stage. Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim & Morten Jensen's men have gone two matches without a win, with their opening match resulting in a 3-1 away defeat to Stuttgart. The second outing against Bayern Munich deserves some credit.
Viking held the six-time UEFA Champions League winner to a thrilling 3-3 draw despite being dominated. Herman Johan Haugen's late equaliser made it possible for them to snatch a point. Can they repeat the same feat once again? See what our experts have to say in our Aston Villa vs Viking FK prediction for more insights into the game.
Viking FK stats against Bayern Munich:
| Viking FK | Stats | Bayern Munich |
|---|---|---|
0.72 | Expected goals (xG) | 3.29 |
34% | Ball possession | 66% |
1 | Big chances | 3 |
14 | Touches in opposition box | 51 |
8 | Total shots | 25 |
5 | On target | 8 |
3 | Off target | 4 |
2 | Yellow card | 4 |
- | Red card | 1 |
7 | Corners | 15 |
The assignment is clear-cut as they approach this fixture: raid Villa Park and secure a positive outcome. This is the first time in club history they'll go head-to-head with Aston Villa. However, they have crossed paths with English opposition before in European competition and have a balanced record of one win and one loss.
Viking FK's match history against English teams:
- 2002-03 UEFA Cup (First Round, Away): Chelsea 2-1 Viking FK
- 2002-03 UEFA Cup (First Round, Home): Viking FK 4-2 Chelsea
As the statistics above show, their last visit to English soil ended in defeat. This has been one of their weaknesses: playing on foreign soil. Their away UEFA Champions League record has left much to be desired, as they are winless in nine outings, with a 2-2 draw against Dinamo Zagreb in the playoff being the only positive result (L8).
It's possible that erratic form could be their undoing in this impending encounter against a team that is not only motivated but has never lost to a Norwegian side, maintaining a 100% record in two games.
