Aston Villa defeated Norwegian champions Viking 3-1 at Villa Park on Wednesday to record a third straight win in this season's Champions League, according to Sky Sports. Ross Barkley and Emiliano Buendia scored before half-time, and a third goal followed from an own goal after the break. A late Viking reply meant Villa finished the night second in the league phase rather than first.
Why it matters
A perfect record after three matches puts Villa among the early front-runners in the competition. Sky Sports reports that the win briefly lifted Unai Emery's team to the top of the league phase, with supporters in the Holte End chanting that their club was top of the league. Peter Christiansen's late volley for Viking, allowed after a VAR check, dropped Villa to second, behind Paris Saint-Germain.
The result also underlined the depth available to Emery. Villa started with an unfamiliar shape, using Joao Gomes at right-back, and still controlled long stretches of the match against the Norwegian side.
Young wingers take centre stage
Sky Sports described Alysson as the best player on the pitch, calling it likely his strongest display in a Villa shirt. The winger won the penalty that Buendia converted after a VAR review found he had been clipped inside the area. He was also central to the third goal, breaking from deep before Henrik Heggheim turned his cross into his own net.
Emery singled out Alysson and Ibrahim Mbaye afterwards, praising their pace and quality and saying it was important for the club to keep developing both young players. "He was incredible," Emery said of Alysson, according to Sky Sports. "He's showing his potential, his ability on the wing."
Mbaye, who delivered the corner that Barkley headed in, also drew praise from his manager. Emery said the match represented progress for both wingers within the team's approach. He also credited Alejandro Garnacho, who came off the bench late, with what he called his best minutes in a Villa shirt.
Barkley's opener came midway through the first half when he met Mbaye's corner from the opposite flank. Buendia then missed two headed chances before converting from the spot. Gomes, filling in at right-back, had earlier seen a cross deflected onto the underside of the bar.
Viking take encouragement from second half
Viking's coach said his side showed the Norwegian champions too much respect before the interval and created little going forward, which he described as unusual for them. He argued the second half was closer to the team's intended style, with Viking pressing Villa's midfield and defence and drawing the half. Christiansen's late goal, confirmed by VAR, came in front of more than 2,000 travelling Norwegian supporters, and the coach called scoring at Villa Park a significant step for his club.
Sky Sports noted that Bayern Munich had found Viking difficult opponents the previous week, which gives added context to Villa's control of the contest. Emery said his players respected both the competition and their opponents, followed the game plan, and that several individuals grew in confidence as the match went on.
Villa's next Champions League fixture will show whether they can hold their place near the top of the league phase, while Emery will weigh how much to lean on his young wingers as the schedule continues.
