UEFA Champions League Gameweek 3
Aston Villa 3 - 1 FT Viking
Popular today
Most read in the last 24 hours
Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Bournemouth
3-0
AC Milan
โก Intensity
75
โ๏ธ Balance
20
๐ Stakes
3
๐ฒ Upset
0
Two penalties, one red card, total control
Futmetrix Verdict
26
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Sturm Graz
1-0
Marseille
โก Intensity
22
โ๏ธ Balance
31
๐ Stakes
11
๐ฒ Upset
60
Diakitรฉ struck; Marseille never answered
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
23' Ross Barkley (Ibrahim Mbaye)
HT
62' Henrik Heggheim
โ Tobias Moi โHenrik Bjรธrdal 63'
โ Erik Botheim โSimen Kvia Egeskog 63'
70' โ Ross Barkley โLeon Goretzka
70' โ Nicolas Jackson โTammy Abraham
70' โ Joรฃo Gomes โMatty Cash
72' โ Ibrahim Mbaye โAlejandro Garnacho
75' โ Alysson Edward Franco da Rocha โGeorge Hemmings
โ Jesper Daland โAmin Cosic 75'
โ Zlatko Tripiฤ โVetle Auklend 75'
Peter Christiansen (Kristoffer Askildsen) 84'
โ Herman Haugen โEssien Bassey 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Zion Suzuki 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Joรฃo Gomes 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Victor Lindelรถf 
MAGNET
73
Activity
73
Activity
70
Passes
3
Duels
Pau Torres
MAGNET
75
Activity
75
Activity
71
Passes
4
Duels
Tyrone Mings 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
John McGinn
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
67%
Pass Acc
Ross Barkley 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Alysson
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
Emiliano Buendรญa
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Ibrahim Mbaye
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Nicolas Jackson
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Marco Bizot 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
James Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matty Cash 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ian Maatsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Goretzka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
George Hemmings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Boubacar Kamara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alejandro Garnacho 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Tammy Abraham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Viking
Goalkeepers
Arild รstbรธ 
OCTOPUS
8
Saves
8
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Herman Haugen 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Jesper Daland
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
57%
Duel Win %
Gianni Stensness
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrik Heggheim 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Own Goal
Mistake
Own Goal
Mistake
1
Fouls
5.3
Rating
Midfielders
Kristoffer Askildsen 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.8
Rating
Joe Bell
MAGNET
61
Activity
61
Activity
55
Passes
6
Duels
Tobias Moi
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
Peter Christiansen 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Erik Botheim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Zlatko Tripiฤ
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
BENCH
Lubomir Belko
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Vetle Auklend
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Essien Bassey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kristoffer Haugen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Viljar Vevatne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrik Falchener
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrik Bjรธrdal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Simen Kvia-Egeskog
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jakob Hansen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amin Cosic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Niklas Fuglestad
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Romano Postema
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +9
P: 3 GD: +9
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -6
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +9
P: 3 GD: +9
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -6
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Aston Villa
Viking
Aston Villa
Viking
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Villa Park Siege Leaves Viking Stranded
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. Aston Villa transformed their Champions League aspirations into a relentless attacking clinic that completely overwhelmed their Scandinavian visitors.
A Relentless Opening Barrage
Our take is simple: Viking never stood a chance once the opening whistle echoed around Villa Park. The hosts established a frightening Intensity right out of the gate, turning the pitch into an absolute shooting gallery. Dominating the early exchanges with controlled possession, Aston Villa peppered the opposition box relentlessly, eventually racking up a staggering 21 shots. The inevitable breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when a moment of pure quality split the lines. Ibrahim Mbaye carved open the defence with a precise delivery, allowing Ross Barkley to expertly fire home. It was a thoroughly deserved reward for a one-sided start that left the bewildered visitors gasping for air and clinging to the ropes.
VAR and the Breaking Point
The Balance of this European tie completely shifted in a dramatic three-minute window just past the half-hour mark. Alysson Edward Franco da Rocha was clumsily brought down in the box, prompting a tense and lengthy VAR review. Once the penalty was definitively confirmed, Emiliano Buendรญa stepped up to the spot and coolly dispatched his kick in the 37th minute to double the advantage. Vikingโs goalkeeper deserves immense credit for producing an absolute masterclass to prevent a humiliating cricket score, logging eight heroic saves overall. However, the sheer volume of Villaโs attacks was suffocating, highlighted by a barrage of set-piece pressure that yielded numerous corners. Every time the visitors tried to clear their lines, another wave of claret and blue came crashing back, effectively ending the contest before the halftime break.
Cruising to the Finish Line
With the Stakes incredibly high for automatic Champions League qualification, Villa kept their foot firmly on the gas in the second half. A disastrous own goal from Henrik Heggheim in the 62nd minute officially put the game out of reach, rendering the final half-hour a mere tactical formality. Viking did manage to land a consolation punch late in the evening, as Peter Christiansen found the net in the 84th minute after linking up smartly with Kristoffer Askildsen. That late strike survived yet another VAR check before being awarded. Ultimately, this dominant 3-1 victory cements Villaโs flawless early form in the League Stage. Pushing them up to fourth place, this performance proves they are entirely unbothered by the Upset Factor on major European nights.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR definitively shaped the scoreline, confirming Buendรญaโs crucial first-half penalty for Villa and later validating Christiansen's late consolation goal for Viking.
What does this mean for Aston Villa's season?
Sitting comfortably in 4th place with six points, Villa is perfectly positioned in the top-eight band to secure automatic progression in the Champions League.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Aston Villa Poised to Compound Viking's European Misery
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 53/100. A heavily one-sided contest where Villa can cement a top-eight spot while pushing the visitors closer to early elimination.
The Setup
The October 21 clash at Villa Park highlights the brutal reality of the new Champions League format. Aston Villa sit comfortably in third place, firmly on track for the top-eight direct qualification spots. In contrast, Viking languish in 27th, currently below the 24-team playoff line and facing a very real risk of early elimination. A stark Form differentialโwith the English hosts netting nine goals across two dominant winsโdrives a low Balance rating, reflecting heavily skewed pre-match probabilities. Yet, the Stakes remain massive for a visiting side desperately trying to survive this phase, and a decent Stars rating guarantees there will be individual brilliance on display.
Key Battle
J. Manzambi has been a revelation for the hosts, pulling the strings and dictating tempo in the final third. He will directly challenge the visitors' defensive structure, forcing the experienced Z. Tripiฤ to drop significantly deeper than usual to help stifle the creative threat.
Our Prediction
Aston Villa will dominate possession and should win comfortably. Viking's leaky backline simply won't withstand the relentless waves of home attacks, likely resulting in a multi-goal margin before the final whistle.