Aston Villa made it three wins from three in the Champions League on Wednesday night, beating Viking 3-1 at Villa Park without ever looking in serious danger. It followed their 6-0 demolition of Fenerbahce, and it came against a Norwegian side who had pushed Bayern Munich all the way to a 3-3 draw in the previous round.
Barkley and Buendia put Villa in control
Unai Emery's team were on top from the start, and Viking survived a few scares before Ross Barkley broke through in the 23rd minute, turning in Ibrahim Mbaye's corner at the near post. Villa kept pressing, and eight minutes before half-time they doubled the lead. Alysson was tripped by Zlatko Tripic, the referee pointed to the spot after a VAR review, and Emiliano Buendia coolly slotted home from the spot.
Buendia could have had a second before that. He missed a first-half header, and Nicolas Jackson also passed up two early headers, so the score could have been a good deal worse for the visitors.
Alysson stands out
Viking showed more ambition at the start of the second half, but Villa wrapped things up in the 62nd minute when Alysson's cross was turned into his own net by Henrik Heggheim. Alysson was the best player on the pitch. He was lively and quick out wide, won the penalty and created other chances, and BBC readers rated him 8.55 on average, the highest of anyone. Joao Gomes also saw a cross deflect onto the bar, and John McGinn did what McGinn does, tackling and passing at the heart of everything.
A late consolation and a cameo for Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho, who has struggled to make an impact at Villa since his loan move from Chelsea, came on as a substitute and produced a lively cameo. His shot was saved by Viking keeper Arlid Ostbo, though it might give his fragile confidence a lift. Viking did pull one back four minutes from time when Peter Christiansen finished an acrobatic effort, allowed by VAR after an initial offside flag, which cost Zion Suzuki a clean sheet he would have enjoyed.
For Emery it was another satisfying night. It was Villa's 12th consecutive home win in European competition, which is the sort of record that explains why the Spaniard is regarded as a specialist in these competitions. Our view: three wins from three, with a dozen home wins in a row in Europe, makes Villa Park one of the toughest places to visit in the competition this season.
Match facts: Aston Villa 3-1 Viking, Champions League, Villa Park, 21 October 2026. Goals: Barkley 23, Buendia (penalty) eight minutes before half-time, Heggheim (own goal) 62, Christiansen four minutes from time. Villa have won all three of their league-phase games.
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