Preview: Aston Villa vs. Viking · prediction, team news, line-ups

Aston Villa host Viking at Villa Park on Wednesday 21 October, with kick-off at 8pm BST, in matchday three of the Champions League league phase.

The Villans sit third on six points with a goal difference of +7. The Norwegian side are 27th out of 36 with one point and a goal difference of -2.

Match preview

Aston Villa arrive with a perfect record in Europe. They won 3-2 at Club Brugge and thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 at Villa Park on 14 October, leading 3-0 at the break. It was their biggest win in European competition.

At home, Unai Emery's side are protecting a 14-match unbeaten run in Europe at Villa Park, with 13 wins and one draw. They also have 11 straight home victories in the competition. They have failed to score in only one of 23 European matches.

Domestic form has been less consistent. Villa are 12th in the Premier League, but they won 1-0 at Newcastle on 17 October after a 2-2 draw with Brentford on the 10th and a 3-2 win at Tottenham on 19 September. They also won 3-1 in a friendly at Sevilla.

Nicolas Jackson leads the scoring chart with three goals and continues to stretch opposition defences. Ross Barkley and Emiliano Buendia have also chipped in with important goals in recent weeks.

Viking are back in the Champions League for the first time since 1992-93. They lost 3-1 at Stuttgart on matchday one. They then drew 3-3 at home to Bayern Munich on 13 October after squandering a two-goal lead.

The Norwegian champions arrive with domestic momentum. They beat Fredrikstad 3-2 on 17 October, won 2-0 at Brann, beat Madla 3-0 in the cup and Lillestrom 3-0. They have won four of their last five matches, with the Bayern draw the exception.

Zlatko Tripic has been involved in three of Viking's four Champions League goals, with one goal and two assists. Peter Christiansen is the top scorer with 14 goals, while new signing Erik Botheim completes the attacking trio.

Viking have scored in each of their last six matches. That consistency is matched by defensive fragility, as they conceded three at Stuttgart and three against Bayern. Villa have averaged more than four goals per game across their last eight Champions League outings.

There is no head-to-head record, as this is the first meeting between the clubs. Villa are looking to secure a top-eight position, while 27th-placed Viking need points to climb out of the elimination zone.

Team news

Villa have a lengthy injury list. Amadou Onana remains out long term with a knee problem. Matteo Ruggeri is expected to miss around two months and Aaron Wan-Bissaka three to four weeks. Johan Manzambi will miss the game with what Emery called a small injury.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been added to the Champions League squad in place of Ruggeri and is available. Ian Maatsen is back in training and George Hemmings is a minor doubt with a knee issue. Brian Madjo is still unregistered. Tyrone Mings could play at left-back, and rotation is expected.

Viking remain without Martin Roseth, Veton Berisha, Anders Baertelsen and Sivert Bjorshol through injury. Nick D'Agostino is a doubt, as are Henrik Falchener and Kristoffer Haugen, who both feature in the predicted lineups. Kristoffer Askildsen is available despite a two-match ban in the Norwegian league.