As a Scot living in Norway, I was very excited to see Viking been drawn against Aberdeen in the Europa League Qualifiers this week.
I have watched a lot of football in Norway this year, including plenty of Viking games, and I think it will be a really tough game for Aberdeen in Stavanger.
It's a tough draw for Viking too though, and it will likely be an even game. But I thought since there are no games this week in Eliteserien, I would take a look at tactically how Viking line up, what they try and do offensively and how they work as a defensive unit.
In short, what should Aberdeen be prepared for, and where can they get at them.
Viking Lineup
This is the way Viking have lined up in the last two games. Joe Bell played holding midfield for most of the games this season, but he has lost his place the last two weeks, maybe just to freshen things up in midfield.
Torsteinbø who played the majority of games at right back has moved in to midfield, and now Løkberg who played right of the centre 3, is in the middle.
The main reason for all of these shifts is due to the return of Yann Erik de Lanlay on the right of the front three. That has meant that Ibrahimaj has dropped into the midfield 3, and probably leaves the right hand side of the pitch a little more exposed defensively.
Putting Vevatne at right back means he is not really going forward, basically leaving a back 3 when attacking.
This inevitably creates a slight imbalance in the attacking shape of the side, and means Viking attack down the left hand side far more than the right.
There are two or three possible changes to this team for when Aberdeen visit.
1. Central defender Runar Hove is usually a regular but has missed the last two and a half months with an injury. He could come back over the international break, and would likely replace Axel Andresson.
2. Joe Bell could go back in to the holding midfield role. It makes a big difference when he plays to the style. All the recycled play goes through him, as he looks to start attacks by getting the ball in to wide areas. He is always wanting to get on the ball, something Løkberg doesn't do so much of.
3. It is possible they might rotate a little, with guys like Even Østensen and Tommy Høiland both needing games in attack, but they would weaken the side a little.
Style of Play - Offense
Left Hand Side Attacks
No doubt Viking do most of their good work on the front foot, they have scored 24 goals and conceded 30 in the 16 league games so far this season. A lot of that is to do with Zymer Bytyqi, Veton Berisha and Ylldren Ibrahimaj.
De Lanlay coming back from injury means Ibrahimaj is a little deeper, and in recent weeks most of the attacking has been done down the left hands side.
Often how it works is Zymer Bytyqi drops in to a wide area, right on the touchline where is is found by one of the midfielder.
At this point left back Adrian Pereira is free to attack, and does very little of the conventional overlapping, instead often underlaps Bytyqi due to his position on the touchline. Pereira has just turned 21, has so much energy to get up in attack and does it the full game, often finding himself in crossing areas from quite far in, even in the box in shooting positions.
The pair combine very well, Bytyqi cuts in on his right, and Pereira with his runs beyond often drags defenders away. It gives Byyqi the crossing option, or if the defenders don't follow the run, the passing option to Pereira.
Another thing that happens quite a lot in this situation is Berisha or Ibrahimaj gets involved in a triangle, and Bytyqi will look for the pass and Pereira becomes a third man running in behind.
Bytyqi has the pace to get down the outside, so leave him one on one, and he can go both ways, can cross with both feet, and is very hard to defend against. For me he is the best player at Viking and one that needs to be handled very carefully. He can also cut in and shoot, something he looks to do around the area, he has scored goals from this this season.
Bytyqi has 5 assists, Pereira 3, so a third of the goals are assisted directly from their play. Pereira also has two goals, Bytyqi 5, showing how important these two are to the team.
As buildup is happening they flood the box, Torsteinbø, De Lanlay and Ibrahimaj join Berisha in the box, and Løkberg as well is never far away. They certainly commit numbers in attack which can leave them a little vulnerable to the counter.
Right Hand Side Attacks
The right hand side is very different, with Vevatne at right back not getting forward nearly as much as Pereira. He does back up De Lanlay on that side, but the main attacking combination comes from De Lanlay and Ibrahimaj together, with Vevatne sometimes crossing from deeper.
Often the right hand side isn't creating much, instead they recycle the ball quickly as they can over to the left hand side to create space for that side, it is a very lopsided attack, not much goes down that right.
However, brahimaj has a great left foot, and if you give him space in advanced areas he will pick out through balls or cross to Berisha or Torsteinbø creeping round the back. He likes to bounce passes off of Berisha too, who is a strong link player.
Also De Lanlay is just coming back from injury and will be getting fitter every week. He can go both ways as well, and when Ibrahimaj goes round him on an overlap it can leave space for either of them.
Other things of note
Viking do look to play out from the back, particularly through the full backs, but if they are pressed high they won't try anything silly. Torsteinbø becomes a target for long balls high on the left hand side, he wins his fair share of flick ons for Berisha and Bytyqi to work off of.
Berisha has really found his form in August, scoring 6 goals and looking far better than at any stage in 2019 with Brann. He is short but really strong and stocky player, but also is willing to break in behind when the option is there.
He is at his best when backing in to defenders and laying passes off one or two touch, then getting in to the box. He is a decent finisher, and knows how to find space for himself in the box.
Viking transition pretty quickly to attack when they win it back, often it is fired in to Berisha who can lay it off and the back up players look for Bytyqi in behind. If the line is high, Berisha will go in behind as well and look to stretch play.
Defense
This is how they set up defensively when they are not pressing high:
Defense has been the big issue for Viking this year, and they do lose a lot of goals, particularly in transition. They also press really high and aggressively, which can leave them vulnerable to direct balls.
The defense don't quite get up high enough, so dropping balls in to strikers is fairly easy, and you can set up attacks from there.
Adrian Pereira who we talked about in an attacking sense, presses very aggressively on the wide man, leaving huge spaces in behind him. It either leaves the central defender heavily exposed, or gives Løkberg or Torsteinbø a really tough task of covering for him.
Pereira doesn't particularly cover in far enough either in general play, I think it is a real weakness defensively the left hand side. He is great going forward, but needs to work on his defensive work having just turned 21.
In transition Viking try and press high and quickly. This is where they are at their most vulnerable because they lose a little bit of shape. Especially when Løkberg plays and not Joe Bell. Bell is far less likely to go pressing a harrying up the pitch, but Løkberg is naturally good at it, and can't help himself.
Sometimes this leaves big gaps between midfield and defense that can be exploited. Nodody is particularly lazy in the side, but Ibrahimaj, Berisha, Bytyqi and de Lanlay don't quite have the intensity of Torsteinbø and Løkberg when pressing, so you can play round them, and if you have a striker to hold up play you can get the ball into him and quickly transition in to attack against them.
I also think they are a little bit vulnerable from set pieces and cross balls. They play a zone marking system on corners, but they don't have a lot of height in the side which is an issue, and goalkeeper Østbø doesn't really command his box. He is a decent shot stopper, but not commanding.
Heggheim is only 19, and Andresson is 22, they lack experience, and Heggheim definitely lacks a little bit of aggression for me.
Conclusion
Viking can be hurt with quick transitions, in particular in behind left back Pereira.
Also plenty cross balls, they lack height and aggression in defending the box, so that can be exploited.
The left hand side of the attack is where the magic happens. Bytyqi, and Pereira are a great partnership, and both are capable of telling crosses.
They cross the ball and flood the box when given an opportunity. Be prepared to defend crossed balls.
In defensive transition, be aware Berisha is often the first target in to his feet for them to quickly move upfield. Bytyqi likes to go in behind on transition quickly too.
Nearly all long balls from the keeper are aimed at Torsteinbø in the left wing area, be prepared to defend that.
Ibrahimaj has a great left foot, don't leave him room on his left hand side to pick out passes and crosses, he can do it all day.
Viking work very hard, that has to be matched, because if they have a lot of possession they will create chances.
There is no doubt in my mind Aberdeen can come to Stavanger and win, but Viking have plenty tools to hurt them, this will not be an easy game.
Viking currently sit 10th, but they are far better than that, and if they are underestimated at all by Aberdeen, they will not beat them.
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