Aston Villa prepares for Champions League clash against Viking FK

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has emphasized the need for respect and focus ahead of their upcoming Champions League match against Norwegian champions Viking FK. Despite Villa's strong start to the campaign, including a 6-0 victory over Fenerbahçe, Emery cautioned that his team are not favorites to reach the top eight and must remain organized to maintain their momentum.

Viking FK enters the match following a notable 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich, demonstrating their ability to compete with elite European sides. However, the Norwegian side has struggled in the Champions League group stage thus far, sitting at the bottom of the table with one point.

Both squads face availability challenges. Aston Villa is managing injuries to players including Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, and Matteo Ruggeri. Viking FK is also dealing with several absences due to injury, including Veton Berisha and Martin Ove Roseth.