Viking Fotballklubb left its mark in the history of the Champions League with a result that will remain etched in the memory of the fans in Stavanger: a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich, played at the Viking Stadion. The match, which saw the Norwegian club, founded in 1899, stop the German power, was a real show of emotion. After a first half in which the Norwegians had already managed a 2-0 lead, the Bavarians' comeback, with two goals from Harry Kane and another from Diaz, had almost canceled out the victory. Olise's dismissal, however, rekindled Viking's hopes, who managed to equalize with a goal from Haugen, thus completing the goal from Stensness and Christiansen.
The club from Stavanger, known for being Norway's oil capital, also has a strong football tradition. Viking is Norway's second most successful club, with nine league titles, but its European experience has been limited to a few appearances, such as the first elimination in the 1992-93 Champions League against Barcelona and the group stage of the 2005-06 UEFA Cup. Last night's result, therefore, represents a historic achievement for the football company.
One of the club's strengths is its youth sector, considered one of the most important in the country. Among the talents who have left Viking we find Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund) and the last one, Edvin Austbo, who played a key role in the return match of the playoffs against Dinamo Zagreb before being sold to West Ham. Many of the players currently in the squad are local products, giving the team a strong and recognizable identity.
The Viking squad presented an interesting composition on the pitch against Bayern. Only three foreign players made the team: Danish Christiansen, Australian Stensness and New Zealander Bell. Furthermore, the presence of two Italian players, Askildsen (formerly Lecce and Sampdoria) and Botheim (formerly Salernitana), added an international touch to the group. The club, which won the Norwegian championship in 2025, is now competing for the 2026 title against Bodo Glimt.
The club is led by two coaches, Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen, who have introduced a complementary technical approach. Their collaboration, which led to surprising results, was welcomed by the club and the fans. With the victory against Bayern Munich, Viking proved that they can compete at European levels, paving the way for a new era for the Norwegian club.