Unai Emery Urges Aston Villa to Carry Champions League Form into Premier League

Unai Emery wants Aston Villa to take their strong European form into the Premier League after a 3-1 win over Norwegian side Viking at Villa Park on Wednesday night.

The result kept Villa's perfect record in the Champions League and lifted them to second in the table. It was their fifth win in six games in all competitions and their 12th straight home victory in major European ties. That matches the best run by an English club this century, shared by Manchester City and Manchester United.

Emery was pleased with how his players handled the night. "We are delighted how we are responding in our demands. Respecting the competition, respecting the opponents and how we are improving things.

"Through those issues I think we played a good match, serious match. Respecting them and following the plan we set up, then individually the players trying to display their quality. Today mixing those objectives, I think we did a good job and some players they did one step forward in their confidence, feeling better and understanding tactically and playing football."

He also pointed to the gap between Villa's European and domestic results. They are still without a home league win this season. 

"We are challenging each match as a objective to get better to become consistent in Europe and playing matches in the Premier League and trying to be very demanding. How we must feel strong and confident. I think there is still work to do, we did a very good match and Champions League is very difficult, but we have nine points. Two matches winning here at home.

"In the Premier League we are still not winning but in Champions League league winning two good matches against Fenerbahce and today and now can feel confident and comfortable for the next challenges. The atmosphere was fantastic how we are enjoying Champions League with our supporters and enjoying together."

Villa came into the game after thrashing Fenerbahce 6-0, and they ran the show early against a Viking side that held Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw last week. They had 14 shots in the first half, and Nicolas Jackson twice had headers saved by goalkeeper Arild Ostbo.

Ross Barkley broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, glancing in a corner from Ibrahim Mbaye. It was the first time since October 2020 that he has scored in three starts in a row. Emiliano Buendia made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after VAR ruled that Zlatko Tripic had tripped Alysson. That made Buendia the first Villa player to score in four straight major European games.

Zion Suzuki denied Tobias Moi early in the second half, and then Henrik Heggheim turned Alysson's cross into his own net in the 62nd minute. Chelsea loanee Alejandro Garnacho was also kept out by Ostbo. Peter Christiansen scored a late acrobatic goal from a Kristoffer Askildsen cross, and it stood after a VAR offside check, which denied Villa a third clean sheet in a row.

Villa are the first Europa League holders since United in 2017-18 to win their first three Champions League games. They have also reached 20 wins in the European Cup in just 30 matches, second only to Real Madrid, who needed 29.

Next up for Emery's side is a home game against Manchester City this weekend, where they will look for that first league win at Villa Park. 

Next month they put their perfect Champions League record on the line against La Liga leaders Barcelona.