Aston Villa will target a third straight win when they host Viking at Villa Park on October 21. The Norwegian visitors will be confident following a shock 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich last week.

Villa Building Momentum Following Successive Wins

Unai Emery finally appears to have got his team up to speed after a slow start to the campaign, as Aston Villa have won back-to-back clashes in all competitions without conceding.

Seven goals have been scored across that period, which includes a dominant 6-0 home win against Fenerbahçe in the UCL last Wednesday. Johan Manzambi has sparkled on the wing, scoring three goals in his last four club starts.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka limped off on Saturday, meaning Emery will have a defensive headache at left-back, with Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri also likely to miss the match. Pau Torres could be preferred in that role after featuring in the backline in last week’s big European win.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Viking (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Torres; Kamara, Gomes; McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi; Jackson

Viking Show Character in Draw with German Champions

Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen oversaw Viking’s best result in Champions League history last week, when the Norwegian club battled back from 3-2 down to earn a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich.

Viking are now unbeaten in six, with excellent attacking output, scoring 22 goals over that period. Peter Christiansen has been influential in the final third, scoring eight in his last six starts.

Defenders Sondre Bjorshol and Anders Baertelsen are missing this week, but Henrik Falchener is expected to start after being taken off early on Saturday to rest him for this clash.

Viking predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3): Ostbo; Heggheim, Falchener, Stensness, Auklend; Moi, Bell, Kvia-Egeskog; Christiansen, Botheim, Tripic

Aston Villa vs Viking Prediction

  • Safe Tip: Aston Villa to Win
  • Odds: 1.24 (22Bet)
  • Correct score prediction: Aston Villa 3-0 Viking
  • 22Bet Booking Code: 2ZBH2

Key stats:

  • Aston Villa have avoided defeat in their last five.
  • Viking have failed to keep clean sheets in four of their previous seven.
  • The visitors have won just two of their 18 matches in the European Cup/Champions League.

A home win is the logical angle on Wednesday, with Aston Villa winning four of their previous five matches in all competitions.

Viking may have gained confidence from a recent draw against Bayern, but they lost 12 of their overall 18 fixtures in the European Cup/Champions League. Meanwhile, they have lost all eight away matches at the highest level of European football since the 1973-74 season.

The main risk is Viking’s attacking output, but Villa have historically excelled on home turf in the Champions League, keeping clean sheets in five of their last seven, making a home win the logical play at 1.24.

Aston Villa vs Viking Prediction, Value Tip

  • Value Tip: Both Teams to Score - No (BTTS - No)
  • Odds: 2.116 (22Bet)
  • 22Bet Booking Code: QGKH2

Viking have been unable to score in six of their last eleven European away matches since the start of the 2005-06 UEFA Cup group stage.

The Villans were solid under the lights last Wednesday, keeping a clean sheet in the 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe.

Villa’s defensive strength was highlighted in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, limiting their opponents to a single shot on target. Therefore, BTTS - No provides excellent value at 2.116 this week.

Verdict: Aston Villa to Win (1.24) — Aston Villa 3-0 Viking.