Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; Score808 Live provides the summary and editorial framing.
Aston Villa Viking win built on Alysson's running
Aston Villa beat Viking 3-1 at Villa Park to make it three wins from three in this season's Champions League. Ross Barkley headed the opener, Emiliano Buendia converted a penalty, and an own goal from Henrik Heggheim made it three before Peter Christiansen's late volley.
The third goal briefly took Unai Emery's side to the top of the league phase, and the Holte End knew it. Christiansen's strike, awarded after a VAR check, dropped Villa back to second behind PSG.
The night belonged to Alysson. The young winger produced what the report describes as surely his best performance in a Villa shirt, and he was instrumental in the goal that put his side ahead of the rest.
Barkley and Buendia break the Norwegian champions
Villa lined up with a makeshift look, Joao Gomes at right-back. The Brazilian had a cross deflected against the underside of the bar early on, a moment that set the tone for a home side in control from the first whistle.
Ibrahim Mbaye's corner from the other flank was nodded in by Barkley midway through the first half. Buendia then came close with two good headed chances before making amends from the penalty spot, after a VAR check ruled that Alysson had been clipped inside the box.
That second goal arrived before the break and left Viking chasing a game they had rarely threatened. Bayern Munich had struggled against the Norwegian champions last week; Villa, by contrast, were never seriously unsettled.
Alysson's run and Heggheim's own goal
The third goal came on 62 minutes and came from the same source. Alysson raced through from deep, and Henrik Heggheim could only divert his cross past his own goalkeeper.
That was the goal that took Villa into top spot in the league phase, and the crowd chanted "We are top of the league" afterwards. The tifo unveiled in the Holte End before kick-off had already framed the evening, pointing out that Villa have conquered before and are prepared for more.
There are more fancied sides in this Champions League, but few boast the clarity of purpose that Emery brings. Villa, on this evidence, are building again.
Key moments at Villa Park
- 23 minutes: Barkley heads Villa in front from a corner.
- 37 minutes: Buendia makes it two from the penalty spot.
- 62 minutes: Heggheim turns Alysson's cross into his own net.
- 84 minutes: Christiansen's volley brings Viking a consolation.
Christiansen's volley and the table
Viking's reply arrived on 84 minutes, Christiansen's brilliant volley confirmed after another VAR check. It was a consolation on the scoreline but not on the table: it was enough to move Villa back to second.
For Emery, the takeaway is a third win from three and a side that controlled a Champions League night despite a reshuffled back line. For Viking, the late goal was a reminder of how close they came to spoiling it.
The original report is by skysports.com.
