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Villa Park, Birmingham
Wednesday, 8pm BST
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Aston Villa welcome Viking to Villa Park on Wednesday knowing a third successive Champions League win would put them in a strong position in their pursuit of automatic qualification to the round of 16.
Viking travel to Birmingham with just one point from their two opening league-phase matches, though they should not be underestimated considering they were able to hold Bayern Munich to a 3-3 stalemate in matchweek two.
Preview and form guide: Aston Villa vs Viking
Unai Emery's side enter Wednesday's match unbeaten in five games, winning four times, with their most recent success a 1-0 triumph against Newcastle United on October 17.
In the Champions League, Villa have been strong in the final third across both of their wins, beating Club Brugge 3-2 in Belgium before demolishing Fenerbahce 6-0 at Villa Park last week in what was their biggest ever European victory.
Back in domestic football, the Lions have started to pick up more positive results, as while they lost three and drew one of their first four games in English football, they have since won three times and drawn once, and they find themselves 12th in the top flight with eight points after seven matchweeks.
Nicolas Jackson, who scored twice against Fenerbahce and has been involved in several of Villa's most productive attacks this season, has been the focal point of a frontline that has started to find its feet in recent games, with the likes of Johan Manzambi also settling well.
Viking are unbeaten across their last six games in all competitions, winning five times and settling for one draw, and they will no doubt believe that they can trouble any team they encounter in the Champions League based on the result they earned against Bayern.
The draw with the Bundesliga giants could have been even better considering they led 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from Gianni Stensness and Peter Christiansen, though they then had to rely on an equaliser from Herman Haugen in the 90th minute to avoid losing following a fightback from Bayern.
Zlatko Tripic has been the creative architect of the club this term, registering a remarkable 19 assists in the 2026 Eliteserien, while also scoring six times, and he is sure to be a threat going forward on Wednesday.
Viking do not boast a particularly extensive history in the Champions League, with the visitors having only played 18 times in the competition, winning just twice while suffering 12 losses. This season's tournament is in fact just the first time they have competed in the league phase or group stage of any UEFA competition since the 2005-06 Europa League.
Team news and predicted XIs: Aston Villa vs Viking
Aston Villa
Villa's injury list is growing at an inconvenient moment, with four first-team players confirmed absent and two more in doubt. Perhaps their biggest concern is the absence of Manzambi, though he is not expected to miss a prolonged period.
Defenders Matteo Ruggeri and Ian Maatsen are unavailable, which leaves Lamare Bogarde as an emergency option at left-back, while Pau Torres and Victor Lindelof are likely to play as centre-backs.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who started the Fenerbahce match a week ago, picked up a thigh injury at St James' Park and scans are ongoing to determine how long he will be absent, meaning Matty Cash should therefore start at right-back.
Leon Goretzka, the Germany international who joined from Bayern Munich this summer, is available but may have to settle for a place on the bench in favour of Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Viking
Suzuki; Cash, Torres, Lindelof, Bogarde; Barkley, Kamara; McGinn, Buendia, Mbaye; Jackson
Aston Villa
Viking
Co-head coaches Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen could be without five players for the trip to England, with Anders Baertelsen, Martin Roseth and Sondre Bjorshol all ruled out and Nicholas D'Agostino and Veton Berisha currently doubts for the game.
Their 4-3-3 shape has been consistent throughout the European campaign, with Joe Bell operating as the anchor in a three-man midfield flanked by Kristoffer Askildsen and Henrik Bjordal, while Tripic, Erik Botheim and Peter Christiansen form the front line.
Christiansen has been in outstanding domestic form having scored 14 goals in the Eliteserien this season, as well as one in the Champions League, while Tripic has created three chances in the opening two league-phase matches.
Viking predicted lineup vs Aston Villa
Ostbo; Heggheim, Stensness, Falchener, Haugen; Bjordal, Bell, Askildsen; Christiansen, Botheim, Tripic
Viking
Head-to-head: Aston Villa vs Viking
Wednesday marks the first competitive meeting between these two clubs, so there is no shared history to inform expectations for this fixture.
Villa's track record in European competition does the talking instead, with Emery's side having won the Europa League last season, while also troubling Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the 2024-25 edition of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Viking have only ever earned two wins in the competition, though they have performed excellently so far this season in Europe.
Our Aston Villa vs Viking prediction and tips
Odds correct as of Monday, 20 October 2026, 15:30 BST. Odds subject to change.
- Nicolas Jackson to get on the scoresheet for Villa, with the striker in fine form after netting twice against Fenerbahce last week
- Ross Barkley to add to the tally from midfield, continuing his involvement in Villa's attacking play this season
- Zlatko Tripic to grab a consolation for Viking, the captain having been a consistent creative force throughout their European campaign
Lewis is an avid writer and football fan, with years of experience working as a freelance journalist across text, audio and video.
As a Liverpool supporter, Lewis has frequently covered the club of his heart, though he has also branched out considerably, interviewing and writing about personalities across the football sphere.