Viking FK ended a 34-year title drought, and now the Norwegian champions are preparing for a Champions League trip to face Aston Villa.
Some football journeys take decades to complete. For Viking FK, the road from Norwegian domestic glory to a Champions League night against Aston Villa has been 34 years in the making.
The Stavanger club finally ended its long wait for a league title last year, a triumph that gave supporters the chance to dream of nights on Europe's biggest stage. Now that dream is a fixture, with Unai Emery's Villa standing between Viking and a statement result.
The emotion around the club is easy to understand. For a generation of fans, the idea of watching their side compete among Europe's elite seemed distant. Many have lived with the sentiment of 'I've waited 34 years for this', and the Villa tie gives it a fitting stage.
On paper, it's a major test. Villa bring Premier League intensity and a deep squad, while Viking arrive as underdogs with little to lose. For the Norwegian side, simply being in the competition is a milestone, but they will want to prove they belong there.
