Aston Villa beats Viking 3-1 after Heggheim's own goal extends lead

Early headers precede Barkley's opener

Nicolas Jackson had two early opportunities for Aston Villa, with headers saved in the third and sixth minutes. John McGinn supplied the cross for the first chance, while Emiliano Buendía delivered the second as Villa sought an opening goal.

Joao Gomes, playing at right-back, also had an early cross deflected against the underside of the crossbar. Villa went ahead in the 23rd minute when Ross Barkley headed in from Ibrahim Mbaye's corner.

Penalty doubles Villa's advantage

Emiliano Buendia went close with two headed chances before Villa extended its lead. A VAR check established that Alysson had been clipped inside the penalty area, and Buendia converted the resulting penalty in the 37th minute. That gave Villa a two-goal advantage before the interval.

Alysson helps create the third

After halftime, Alysson set up another opportunity for Emiliano Buendía, whose close-range shot was saved in the 55th minute. Villa's next goal came seven minutes later, again with Alysson involved in its creation.

Alysson raced forward and sent in a cross that Henrik Heggheim diverted into his own net in the 62nd minute, extending Villa's lead to three goals.

Christiansen supplies Viking's late reply

Jackson shot too high from Alysson's pass following a fast break in the 64th minute. Alejandro Garnacho later had a shot saved in the 78th minute, then fired too high in the 80th minute after Leon Goretzka's pass following a corner.

Viking answered late through Peter Christiansen, who scored from Kristoffer Askildsen's cross. The goal received VAR confirmation in the 85th minute, but it was the final change to the score before the match ended.