Breaking Viking’s Block

Viking’s remarkable draw with Bayern Munich was built on a deliberate defensive strategy, quick attacking transitions and an outstanding performance from captain Zlatko Tripić. The Norwegian champions have shown they can frustrate Europe’s strongest sides, but their approach also presents opportunities for Aston Villa. Emery’s choice of midfielders, the movement around Nicolas Jackson and the use of Villa’s wide players could be decisive.

By Nico Valenti

For 45 minutes against Bayern Munich, Viking produced one of the most impressive defensive performances of this season’s Champions League. They led 2–0, restricted Bayern’s access to the central areas and repeatedly frustrated a side accustomed to playing through opponents.

Their second goal, finished by Peter Christiansen after a three-pass counterattack, demonstrated how quickly they could turn that defensive work into an opportunity at the other end.

Bayern eventually fought back to lead 3–2, before Herman Haugen’s late equaliser secured a remarkable draw for the Norwegian champions. The final statistics were heavily in Bayern’s favour: 66% possession, 25 shots and approximately 3.3 expected goals against Viking’s eight attempts and 0.7 xG. Those numbers suggest the result flattered Viking, particularly after Michael Olise’s dismissal gave them a numerical advantage for the closing stages.

Yet the performance offered a fascinating insight into how Viking intend to compete in Europe. Their defensive organisation was no accident. It represented a significant tactical adjustment following September’s 3–1 defeat at Stuttgart, where Ermedin Demirović scored a first-half hat-trick as Viking struggled to protect the spaces between their lines.

Co-managers Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen have since made a conscious decision to eliminate that vulnerability. Against Bayern, Viking committed either to an aggressive man-for-man press or a compact low block, avoiding the uncertain middle ground that Stuttgart had exploited.

The approach worked particularly well before half-time. UEFA’s tactical analysis found that Bayern managed just two successful line-breaks between Viking’s defensive and midfield units that led to shots or goals, compared with ten against Bodø/Glimt in their opening Champions League fixture.

For Villa, understanding that distinction is important. Viking are comfortable allowing opponents possession when their defensive positions are established. They can also engage much higher when the opportunity arises. Emery will need his players to recognise which version they are facing and adapt the way they move the ball accordingly.

A compact defence with a clear purpose

Viking’s usual personnel can operate in a 4-3-3, although their shape regularly resembles a 4-4-2, particularly when Christiansen moves alongside Erik Botheim. Against Bayern, the essential principle was keeping the midfield close enough to the defence to prevent passes into dangerous central positions.

Joe Bell provides an important reference point in midfield, supported by Kristoffer Askildsen and Henrik Bjørdal. Captain Tripić, normally positioned on the left, contributes to the defensive organisation while remaining Viking’s principal creative outlet. The four defenders, generally Henrik Heggheim, Gianni Stensness, Henrik Falchener and Kristoffer Haugen, stay narrow and protect the penalty area.

Their defensive work against Bayern was particularly impressive in the wide areas. UEFA technical observer Sean Dyche highlighted how Viking prevented Bayern from progressing through the combinations between winger, central midfielder and full-back. When Bayern moved possession wide, Viking’s corresponding winger, midfielder and full-back worked together to close the available passing angles.

That organisation meant Bayern frequently had to circulate the ball around Viking’s shape and attempt crosses into a well-defended penalty area. Their 25 attempts demonstrate that Viking were unable to prevent opportunities entirely, but the difficulty of finding passes through the centre was clear.

The implications for Villa are significant. Delivering crosses is unlikely to produce enough. Viking have demonstrated that they can defend those situations effectively when their midfield has time to recover. The more interesting possibility is forcing their defensive players to make decisions about which opponent to follow.

Manzambi’s movement could be particularly valuable here. Against Fenerbahçe, he repeatedly received between the lines, turned towards defenders and found Mbaye advancing on the left. Their combinations were effective because Manzambi could attract pressure before releasing the ball into the space created.

Against Viking, there may be less room for those initial turns. Bell and the other midfielders will be alert to Manzambi receiving centrally, which makes his movement away from those positions important. By drifting into the left half-space, he could draw one of Viking’s midfielders towards him, opening a different passing angle for Jackson or the advancing wide player.

Mbaye has the directness to exploit those moments. His appearance at Newcastle was encouraging, particularly his late run beyond Lewis Miley and another defender before shooting narrowly wide. He recorded three shots and created a chance in only 18 minutes, demonstrating how quickly he can threaten opponents when receiving in favourable positions.

Viking’s Heggheim would present a different challenge. Their wide defensive partnerships are accustomed to closing down players collectively, so Mbaye may have to combine with Manzambi or another midfielder to create an initial separation before attacking his defender.

Garnacho provides an alternative, with his willingness to remain wide and repeatedly challenge opponents potentially useful if Viking establish a particularly deep defensive position. But Mbaye’s improving relationships with the players around him make him an attractive starting option.

The key will be the speed and accuracy of Villa’s combinations. Moving Viking from one side of the pitch to the other can create opportunities, provided the receiving player has already recognised where to attack.

Tripić and the danger when Villa lose possession

Much of Viking’s attacking quality comes through Zlatko Tripić, whose importance to the team is extraordinary.

The 33-year-old captain has contributed 19 assists and six goals in 22 Norwegian league appearances this season. Those figures reflect his ability to find teammates from a variety of positions, whether delivering crosses from the left, playing into advancing forwards or creating opportunities from dead balls.

Against Bayern, his corner found Stensness for the opening goal after just two minutes. He was involved again for Viking’s late equaliser, delivering the cross that allowed substitute Herman Haugen to head home at the far post.

Tripić is therefore a danger even when Viking have enjoyed very little possession. He has the delivery to punish poorly defended set pieces, and his ability to release the ball early makes him an important part of their counterattacking approach.

Christiansen is the player Villa will need to track particularly carefully when those counters develop.

His goal against Bayern after 38 minutes was an excellent example. Viking escaped Bayern’s counter-pressing through a series of quick combinations, with Botheim providing the final pass that released Christiansen. The Danish forward accelerated into space behind Bayern’s defence and finished confidently beyond Jonas Urbig.

The entire move took just three passes. Viking had spent much of the half protecting their own penalty area, yet their first successful escape produced an opportunity against a badly exposed defensive line.

Christiansen’s recent form reinforces the threat. He scored twice in Viking’s 3–2 comeback against Fredrikstad on Saturday, having also scored against Bayern and in the opening Champions League defeat at Stuttgart. He is comfortable playing alongside Botheim or operating from the right, giving Viking options when possession changes hands.

Villa’s defensive positioning will consequently be important, particularly if they dominate the ball.

Viking’s forwards will look to attack the channels immediately after possession is recovered, and Villa cannot afford to leave both full-backs advancing without sufficient protection from the midfield.

Kamara’s role will be particularly important. His defensive anticipation was instrumental against Fenerbahçe, especially when he recovered possession before Jackson’s first goal. Against Viking, he will also need to recognise when an attacking passage requires him to remain deeper, protecting the area Christiansen or Botheim might attack if Villa lose the ball.

There is a further warning from Viking’s domestic numbers. Around 31% of their non-penalty expected goals have come from set pieces, a higher proportion than the Norwegian league average. With Tripić delivering and Stensness offering an aerial threat, avoiding unnecessary free-kicks around Villa’s penalty area will matter almost as much as defending the resulting crosses.

How Villa can open them up

Despite Viking’s impressive organisation against Bayern, there are clear signs of how Emery might find a way through.

Bayern’s second-half improvement owed something to a change in attacking movement. Harry Kane became increasingly influential, both through his positioning inside the penalty area and his willingness to move deeper to create opportunities for others.

His second goal came from a well-timed run towards Kimmich’s delivery, while Bayern’s third demonstrated how a forward moving away from a crowded central position can disrupt a defensive block. Kane found Konrad Laimer advancing into space, and his square pass allowed Luis Díaz to finish.

Jackson has been developing a similar willingness to move away from the centre-forward position to connect with teammates. Against Fenerbahçe and Newcastle, he regularly received under pressure, protected possession and helped release teammates advancing beyond him.

Viking’s compactness could make those movements valuable. If Jackson drops towards the ball, one of Stensness or Falchener must decide whether to follow him. If the defender moves forward, Manzambi can attack the space behind; if he holds his position, Jackson may have room to turn or release a winger arriving from outside.

The quality of the next pass becomes particularly important against a defence comfortable with its initial shape.

Barkley has a strong argument for returning to the starting XI. Against Newcastle, Emery rightly preferred Gomes’ physicality alongside Kamara, but Villa may need more creative passing from deeper positions against a Viking side likely to defend for prolonged periods.

Barkley’s ability to switch play, find runners between defenders and advance towards the penalty area could give Villa a valuable additional dimension. Kamara would need to provide the defensive protection behind him, particularly with Viking’s threat on the break, while McGinn could move inside from the right when Villa require another midfield option.

The right side also offers a possible route through Viking’s defence. Cash has been increasingly effective advancing to support attacks, while McGinn is comfortable receiving in the inside-right channel and exchanging passes with the full-back.

Against Fenerbahçe, the sequence involving Kamara, McGinn and Cash at around 21 minutes demonstrated how Villa could move the ball through several players before releasing the full-back. Similar combinations could draw Viking’s left-sided defensive triangle towards possession before Villa switch quickly to Mbaye or Garnacho on the opposite flank.

There is a case for playing Alysson on the right if Emery wants greater pace and directness against Kristoffer Haugen, although McGinn’s defensive discipline may be more valuable initially, particularly with Tripić operating on that side.

Villa should also look for more variation in their deliveries once they reach the final third. Viking defended conventional crosses impressively against Bayern, but balls played behind their full-backs, low deliveries towards the penalty spot and late arrivals from midfield could force defenders to turn towards their own goal.

Manzambi’s winner at Newcastle was an excellent example of his anticipation when attacking a delivery from deep, and Barkley’s movement into the box against Fenerbahçe showed that Villa have midfielders capable of providing additional goalscoring options.

Manzambi’s fitness will also need consideration after he sustained a knock at Newcastle. His recent attacking performances make him difficult to omit if available, but Buendía offers another player comfortable operating in congested central positions. The Argentine’s close control and ability to combine around the edge of the penalty area could be particularly valuable if Viking deny Villa space behind their defence.

The temptation will be to focus on Wednesday’s six-goal victory over Fenerbahçe and expect another comfortable evening. Viking’s performance against Bayern suggests a very different contest is possible.

The Norwegian champions have won 18 of their first 23 league matches this season and scored 59 goals. Their confidence is supported by genuine attacking quality, particularly through Tripić and Christiansen, and they have demonstrated the discipline to frustrate opponents with considerably greater resources.

Yet Stuttgart’s victory and Bayern’s second-half comeback also revealed where Viking can be vulnerable. When opponents move the ball quickly enough to stretch their defensive unit, the distances that protect their central areas become harder to maintain.

Villa’s challenge will be to create those moments without exposing themselves to the transitions Viking exploit so effectively.

It promises to be an interesting examination of Villa’s developing attacking game. Viking have already shown how difficult they can be to play through. The quality of Villa’s movement around their defensive block may decide whether Emery can find the openings Bayern struggled to locate for much of their first half in Stavanger.