Aston Villa beat Viking 3-1 at Villa Park to make it three wins from three in the Champions League league phase. Ross Barkley headed the opener, Emiliano Buendía scored a penalty and Henrik Heggheim turned Alysson’s cross into his own net before Peter Christiansen’s late volley.
Birmingham, England: Viking had taken a first Champions League point in a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich. At Villa Park they met a side that had already won its first two league-phase games, including a 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe.
Barkley and Buendía set the tone
Villa controlled the early stages and took the lead in the 23rd minute. Ibrahim Mbaye swung in a corner from the left and Ross Barkley glanced a header into the top of the net. Emiliano Buendía had already headed over from close range after a pass from Alysson, and Viking goalkeeper Arild Østbø later saved another Buendía header.
The second goal came in the 37th minute. A VAR check showed that Alysson had been fouled inside the area, and Buendía converted the penalty. Villa had 14 shots before the break, and João Gomes, deployed at right-back, had an early cross deflected onto the underside of the bar.
Alysson’s run makes it three
Viking improved after the restart. Tobias Moi tested Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, Zlatko Tripic forced another save and Jesper Daland’s powerful effort was tipped over the bar. But Villa’s third came from their best player of the night. Alysson raced through from deep, reached the box and crossed low, and Viking defender Henrik Heggheim diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 62nd minute.
A late consolation
Viking did get something to take home. In the 84th minute Kristoffer Askildsen crossed and Peter Christiansen struck a first-time volley. It was initially flagged offside, but VAR overturned the decision and the goal stood.
The result gave Unai Emery’s team a perfect nine points from their first three league-phase games. UEFA named John McGinn its player of the match.
Result: Aston Villa 3, Viking 1 (UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 3, Villa Park, Birmingham). Aston Villa: Ross Barkley (23′), Emiliano Buendía (37′ pen), Henrik Heggheim (62′ og). Viking: Peter Christiansen (84′). UEFA player of the match: John McGinn (Aston Villa).
