Aston Villa go into Aston Villa vs Viking with maximum points from their opening two League Phase fixtures, 9 goals scored and only 2 conceded. They are unbeaten in their last 14 European home matches, winning 13 of them, and that is the part of this tie that stands out most. Nicolas Jackson has also already scored 3 Champions League goals in 2 appearances, which gives Villa another edge going into Tuesday night.

Villa's home numbers

The clearest marker is what has happened at Villa Park. Aston Villa beat Fenerbahce 6-0 there, their biggest European win in club history, and they now arrive with a perfect start in the league phase. Their overall return leaves them third in the 36-team table, which is a strong place to be after only two games.

That form does not guarantee anything, but it does leave Viking with a difficult assignment. [Viking] drew 3-3 with Bayern München after leading by two goals and then scoring a 90th-minute equaliser, so they have shown they can scramble back into games. They have only 1 point from 2 League Phase matches, though, and they have already conceded 6 goals in those two outings.

Viking's threat and Villa's selection issues

Viking's comeback against Bayern is the main reason this preview has any bite. They have won their last four Eliteserien matches as well, so they arrive with some momentum, even if the European task is a very different one.

Villa still have some selection questions. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was forced off against Newcastle with a hamstring problem, while Ian Maatsen and Johan Manzambi are both sidelined. Unai Emery said of Manzambi, "He felt something, but after the first test we did, it doesn't look to be something big," and he also said George is close to joining us. John McGinn and the rest of Villa's midfield should still expect to have control of the ball for long spells.

Even with those absences, the balance of the tie points one way. Villa's home record in Europe, their 6 points from 2 games and Jackson's early scoring form all support that view, while Viking's Bayern comeback is the reason they are not being written off completely. The test at Villa Park should tell us whether that resistance can last for 90 minutes.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →