UEFA Champions League · League Stage - 3 
Villa's Top-Table Push Meets a Viking Side Searching for Points
Aston Villa host Viking at Villa Park on Wednesday, with the hosts third in the table and the visitors 27th of 36. A home win would strengthen Villa's early challenge for the top places.
📍 Villa Park
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| Scored | Conceded | |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 4.5 | 1.0 |
| Viking | 2.3 | 2.3 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Aston Villa | 2 | +7 | 6 |
| 27 | Viking | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Absences
Aston Villa
- OutM. Cisse · Off the roster
- OutT. Harwood-Bellis · Off the roster
- OutI. Maatsen · Ankle Injury
- OutB. Madjo · Off the roster
- OutA. Onana · Knee Injury
- OutM. Ruggeri · Injury
- DoubtfulG. Hemmings · Knee Injury
- DoubtfulJ. Manzambi · Injury
- DoubtfulA. Wan-Bissaka · Injury
Viking
- OutA. Baertelsen · Foot Injury
- OutV. Berisha · Thigh Injury
- OutS. Bjorshol · Knee Injury
- OutN. D'Agostino · Leg Injury
- OutK. Frimpong · Off the roster
- OutM. Roseth · Knee Injury
Viking arrive in Birmingham on Wednesday with one point from their first two Champions League league-phase matches, sitting 27th of 36 teams. Aston Villa, by contrast, are third with six points and a goal difference of plus seven, so this evening is about far more than three points for the home side.
Villa’s early push for the top places
Unai Emery’s side… (avoid naming manager; not in data). Replace:
Villa have started the competition strongly, winning both of their opening games and building a sizeable cushion in goal difference. For a club with ambitions in the title and qualification race, staying in touch with the leading sides this early is a statement. Viking, meanwhile, are in the lower reaches of the table and need results quickly if they are to keep their own hopes alive.
Form: Villa’s attack against Viking’s struggles
Villa have scored nine goals and conceded only two in their two matches, averaging four and a half goals per game. Viking have collected a win, two draws and a defeat from four games this season, and have conceded nine goals, the same number they have scored. Their away record has been particularly mixed, with a single win on the road.
Team news
Aston Villa will be without a long list of players. M. Cisse, T. Harwood-Bellis, B. Madjo and M. Ruggeri are all missing, while I. Maatsen (ankle) and A. Onana (knee) are sidelined through injury. G. Hemmings, J. Manzambi and A. Wan-Bissaka are doubtful, so their fitness will be monitored closely before kickoff.
Viking face a depleted squad too. A. Baertelsen (foot), V. Berisha (thigh), S. Bjorshol (knee), N. D’Agostino (leg) and M. Roseth (knee) are all unavailable, and K. Frimpong is also out of the squad.
Our prediction
Villa have the superior attack, a far better defensive record in this competition and the stronger position in the table. Viking have shown they can score, but their injury list and their defensive problems make a long afternoon in the Midlands likely. Expect the home side to take control early and keep their momentum going.
Aston Villa 3-1 Viking