Viking FK visit Villa Park aiming to end UCL winless run

Aston Villa host Viking FK at Villa Park on Wednesday evening looking to secure a third consecutive UEFA Champions League victory, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.

The Norwegian side travel to Birmingham having taken a point from their opening two league-phase matches, drawing 3-3 with Bayern Munich after an earlier defeat to VfB Stuttgart. Villa, by contrast, have won both European outings so far — beating Club Brugge away on Matchday One before hammering Fenerbahçe 6-0 last week.

Viking's presence at this stage of the competition is a historic one. Their place in the Champions League league phase marks the club's first appearance at Europe's top table since 1992, when they were eliminated by Barcelona in the first round. The title that got them here — delivered last season by joint head coaches Morten Jensen and Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim — was also their first Norwegian top-flight crown since 1991.

Jensen and Aarsheim, long-time friends who proposed taking on the role together after separately interviewing in late 2020, were named Coaches of the Year in Norway following the title triumph. The pair came through the ranks as assistants under Bjarne Berntsen before taking charge.

Danish striker Mathias Christiansen emerged as a Champions League threat on Matchday Two, scoring in the 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old top-scored with 14 goals as Viking won the league last season and is already into double figures again this term.

Experienced winger Zlatko Tripić, 33, captained the side to the title and was named Eliteserien Player of the Year in 2024. Born in Croatia and raised in Norway, he is over five years into his second stint at the club.

Viking also arrive with domestic pressure on their shoulders. They sit second in the Eliteserien with seven matches remaining, locked in a title race with Bodø/Glimt as they bid to go back-to-back.