Aston Villa maintained their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League league stage with a commanding 3-1 victory over Viking at Villa Park on Wednesday. Goals from Ross Barkley and Emiliano Buendia, plus an own goal, secured the points and sent Unai Emery's side to the top of the 36-team league table. This result, following their 1-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday 17 October, extends their recent form to four wins and a draw from their last five matches.
Ross Barkley opened the scoring after 23 minutes, meeting an Ibrahim Mbaye set-piece with a near-post header. The 18-year-old Mbaye was handed a surprise start and provided the assist. Villa dominated the first half, racking up 21 shots to Viking's 10, with Nicolas Jackson missing two early headed chances.
Emiliano Buendia doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after Zlatko Tripic brought down Alysson in the box. The Argentine was a constant creative threat, attempting seven shots, the most by any Villa player in the competition this season. Villa's third came just after the hour mark when Buendia's cross was turned into his own net by Viking defender Henrik Heggheim.
Viking managed a late consolation through Peter Christiansen's volley in the 84th minute, which was the first goal Villa have conceded in this season's Champions League. The Norwegian side, still awaiting their first win at this level, had previously drawn with Bayern Munich.
John McGinn, named Flashscore's Man of the Match, controlled the midfield with a game-high 72 passes. The win is Villa's fourth in their last five matches across all competitions, a run of form that includes a 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce and a 1-0 league win at Newcastle. Despite this European success, Villa sit 12th in the Premier League with eight points from seven games, having recorded two wins and three defeats. They have scored seven goals and conceded eleven in the league, leaving them 13 points behind leaders Manchester City.
The focus now shifts swiftly to domestic matters and a huge test this weekend.
