Unai Emery’s side have now won 12 straight home games in European competition, keeping their perfect Champions League record intact.
Aston Villa have won their third match in a row in the UEFA Champions League, beating Norwegian side Viking 3-1 at Villa Park.
The result, reported by Daily Guide Network, keeps Unai Emery's team on a perfect record in Europe's top club competition this season, following their 6-0 thrashing of Turkish club Fenerbahce in the previous round of fixtures.
How the goals came
Villa settled quickly and went ahead in the 23rd minute. Ibrahim Mbaye swung in a corner and Ross Barkley met it at the near post to score.
Eight minutes before half time, the hosts doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Alysson was fouled by Zlatko Tripic, and after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) \u2014 the technology that reviews key refereeing decisions \u2014 confirmed the award, Emiliano Buendia converted.
The third goal arrived in the 62nd minute, and it came the hard way for the visitors. Alysson put in a dangerous cross and Viking defender Henrik Heggheim turned the ball into his own net.
Viking pushed forward after the break but could not hold back the pressure. They did get something to show for the night with four minutes left, when Peter Christiansen scored with an acrobatic finish. The goal was first flagged for offside before a VAR check overturned the call.
Garnacho's cameo
Alejandro Garnacho, who is at Villa on loan from Chelsea, came on from the bench and was lively. The winger came close to a fourth goal, but Viking goalkeeper Arlid Ostbo pushed his attempt away.
Why the result matters
Viking are not a side to dismiss. In their previous outing they held Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw, which made this a useful test of how far Villa have come.
The win also stretched Villa's home record in European competition to 12 straight victories, a run that speaks to how comfortable the club has become on the continental stage.
For Emery, a manager with a long record in European football, the perfect start adds to his reputation as a coach who knows how to navigate these competitions.
For Ghanaian fans
Villa Park has become a regular fixture on Ghanaian television and streaming schedules on Champions League nights, and the Premier League club's European run is being followed closely both at home and by Ghanaians in the United States watching on US kick-off times.
With three wins from three, Villa are in a strong position in the league phase of the competition, where teams play a set number of matches against different opponents before the knockout rounds. Attention now turns to how they handle the fixtures still to come.
