Aston Villa v Viking FK on 21 October: Champions League preview

Unai Emery's Aston Villa host Viking FK at Villa Park in Birmingham on 21 October, with kick-off at 20:00 BST, having won both of their Champions League matches so far. Those results have lifted Villa to third in the table on 6 points, with a goal difference of +7. Viking FK, 27th on 1 point, arrive after drawing 3-3 with Bayern Munich and are still chasing their first win of the campaign. Villa also bring a 14-match unbeaten home European streak (W13 D1) into the fixture.

What is at stake for Aston Villa and Viking FK?

Aston Villa are third with 6 points in the 36-team Champions League table, according to Sports Mole, and a win at Villa Park would extend a perfect start to the campaign. Villa's next fixture is away to Barcelona, which gives this home game extra weight.

Viking FK are 27th with 1 point after drawing 3-3 with Bayern Munich in the competition. Sports Mole notes Viking won Eliteserien last year. A result in Birmingham would give them a lift before a home fixture against Sabah FK.

How has Aston Villa's recent form looked?

Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 and Sevilla 3-1, drew 2-2 with Brentford, thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 and then edged Newcastle United 1-0. The sequence runs from oldest to newest and ends with the win over Newcastle United.

The match data credits Aston Villa with 9 total goals and 7 assists, with 2 goals against, so far this season. Sports Mole reports a 14-match unbeaten home European streak for Aston Villa and an 11-game winning run at Villa Park.

What has Viking FK's recent form been like?

Viking FK beat Kristiansund BK 8-1, Lillestrom 3-0 and SK Brann 2-0, drew 3-3 with Bayern Munich, then beat Fredrikstad 3-2. The sequence runs from oldest to newest and ends with the win over Fredrikstad.

The match data credits Viking FK with 4 total goals and 4 assists, with 6 goals against and a goal difference of -2. Zlatko Tripic has 2 assists in 2 matches for Viking FK, and Gianni Stensness has 1 goal in 2 matches.

What have the media reported about team news?

Sports Mole lists Aston Villa absentees as Wan-Bissaka (hamstring), Maatsen (ankle), Onana (knee), Ruggeri (thigh) and Cisse (unspecified), with Harwood-Bellis ineligible for the competition. Yahoo Sports reports Bogarde will replace Wan-Bissaka.

Yahoo Sports adds that Nicolas Jackson is benched, with Mbaye and Garnacho in. For Viking FK, Sports Mole lists Roseth (knee) and D'Agostino (leg) as injured, with Berisha and Bærtelsen also out. Viking are led by joint coaches Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen.

The numbers at Scorely

Data source: ESPN; calculation and table by Scorely.

More on Scorely

• Match page: Aston Villa vs. Viking FK
• Team page: Aston Villa
• Team page: Viking FK