Heggheim manages to halt Alysson out on the touchline here, marking a duel well worth watching.

Villa’s young winger is keen to make an impression after finally breaking into the starting XI last week.

Mbaye and Jackson combine inside the Viking area, before Jackson squares a low pass back for McGinn.

Villa’s captain connects cleanly, but the shot smashes straight into the first defender.

Aston Villa have controlled 62% of the ball, recording two shots and 0.29 xG.

Meanwhile, Viking are restricted to their own half and are yet to register a touch in Villa’s box.

Joao Gomes has been patched up and is back on the pitch.

His compatriot Alysson then sprints toward the right side of the area, hitting the turf under a challenge from Heggheim.

The referee waves play on, completely unmoved.

The game remains paused as Joao Gomes receives treatment on his knee from the medical staff.

He trudges off for further attention while Suzuki resumes play with a long goal-kick, temporarily leaving Villa down to 10 men.

A brief hush falls over Villa Park as Joao Gomes drops to the turf nursing an injury.

The hosts are already missing several men, leaving Emery looking naturally concerned.

SAVE!

He stays onside this time, but Jackson guides a weak header straight at Ostbo following a cross from Buendia.

He surely should have done better there!

Viking’s opening meaningful attack fizzles out as Botheim just misses a curling cross near the edge of the box.

The former Bodo/Glimt forward boasts 13 direct goal involvements from 23 UEFA appearances, which includes setting up the effort that put Viking two up against Bayern Munich last week.

As anticipated, the hosts dictate the opening tempo, knocking the ball around neatly in midfield.

Villa captain McGinn eventually floats a cross toward Jackson, who nods it tamely straight at Ostbo.

It is academic anyway, with the Senegal striker caught offside.

Given an exceptional European record at this ground, Villa unsurprisingly go into tonight’s match as firm favourites.

Opta’s live win predictor places their probability of success at 73 per cent, leaving Viking on just 11 per cent after dropping maximum points across all seven of their previous away fixtures at this level.

The teams have stepped out at Villa Park, meaning kick-off is nearly upon us.

First up, we have yet another airing of the legendary Champions League anthem.

Despite last week’s historic result, Viking co-coaches Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen make three changes to their starting XI from the Bayern Munich game.

Herman Haugen, Daland and rising star Moi come into the side for Kristoffer Haugen, Falchener and Bjordal.

As always, veteran winger Tripic – who set up two goals against Bayern – captains the team.

Since defeating Fenerbahce, Villa have suffered a wave of injuries that leaves Johan Manzambi, Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka out of contention.

Emery swaps out four players from the side that started against Fener, with Mings, Alysson, Buendia and Joao Gomes drawing into the XI.

Interestingly, first-choice right-back Cash begins among the substitutes next to Emery’s preferred left-back Maatsen, who has just recovered from injury.

Viking’s starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation: Arild Ostbo is in goal, backed by a defensive line of Herman Haugen, Jesper Daland, Gianni Stensness and Henrik Heggheim.

Kristoffer Askildsen, Joe Bell and Tobias Moi make up the midfield, with Zlatko Tripic, Erik Botheim and Peter Christiansen forming the attack.

Making their first Champions League appearance since a 1992 debut, Viking have picked up just one point so far, though they memorably frustrated mighty Bayern Munich last time out with a 90th-minute leveller in a 3-3 thriller.

The Stavanger club edged Fredrikstad 3-2 at the weekend, keeping pace right behind Eliteserien leaders Bodo/Glimt on goal difference in a continuation of last term’s title fight.

However, Viking have a record of losing all seven previous away games in UEFA’s elite tournament, and sides from Norway are altogether winless across 28 visits to England.

One of nine sides with maximum points following matchday two, Aston Villa continued their resurgence last week by thrashing Fenerbahce 6-0—the Birmingham club’s largest-ever winning margin in European competition.

They backed that up with a 1-0 triumph away at Newcastle United, as Unai Emery celebrated his 100th Premier League win.

Having notched five victories and 19 goals from their previous seven matches, Emery’s squad are hitting their stride following a turbulent summer.

Ahead of today’s fixture, the Europa League holders also carry a 100% record against Norwegian opponents.