Aston Villa vs Viking Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Aston Villa started slowly once again this season but they have found some form as The Villans now welcome a plucky Viking side to Villa Park in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Aston Villa preview: In-form Villa
Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat of Newcastle United at St James’ Park at the weekend, courtesy of a first half winner scored by big money summer signing Johan Manzambi.
The Villans started their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign with a 3-2 defeat of Club Brugge last month before then earning their biggest ever European win, and biggest win of the Emery era, as they hammered Fenerbahce by six goals to nil last week.
Viking preview: Famous result
Norwegian champions Viking showed their potential for scalps in this league phase campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw against German champions Bayern Munich last week in a game that they did lead 2-0 before snatching a late equaliser in Stavanger.
Viking had been beaten 3-1 by Stuttgart last month, pegging them back to 1-1 at one stage in the first half of that league phase opener. They are unbeaten in five matches since that loss in Germany.
Aston Villa team news: Full-back issues
Aston Villa are dealing with issues at full-back with Aaron Wan-Bissaka having filled in at left-back but he himself is now sidelined. Ian Maatsen is working his way back but it would be somewhat surprising to see him thrown straight into the eleven.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Torres; Kamara, Barkley; McGinn, Buendia, Mbaye; Jackson
Unavailable: Cisse (Fitness), Wan-Bissaka (Injured), Ruggeri (Injured), Onana (Injured)
Questionable: Maatsen (Fitness), Hemmings (Fitness), Manzambi (Injured)
Viking team news: A few issues
Nick D’Agostino and Vedon Berisha are working their way back to full fitness alongside Sondre Bjorshol but both Martin Ove and Anders Baertelsen remain confirmed absentees for Viking.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ostbo; Heggheim, Stensness, Falchener, Haugen; Bjordal, Bell, Askilsden; Christiansen, Botheim, Tripic
Unavailable: Ove (Injured), Baertelsen (Injured)
Questionable: Bjorshol (Injured), D’Agostino (Fitness), Berisha (Fitness)
Aston Villa vs Viking prediction
In that aforementioned five-match unbeaten run of form across all competitions since their loss to Stuttgart last month, Viking have scored 19 goals and look as though they may carry a threat wherever they go on the counter-attack. Last year’s UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa will need to avoid complacency but they now have a brilliant chance to start their European campaign with three wins from three and they are firm favourites in England’s second city.
Aston Villa vs Viking Tip: Aston Villa to win & over 2.5 goals
