Viking 4–1 Sabah: Botheim Double Seals First Champions League Win | Nov. 5, 2026

Last verified: November 5, 2026, 1:35 AM in Stavanger (CET, UTC+01:00; 00:35 UTC).

Viking defeated Sabah 4–1 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Lyse Arena in Stavanger, Norway, recording their first win in the UEFA Champions League proper. Erik Botheim scored twice as the Norwegian club recovered from an early deficit to take all three points in Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 league phase. Viking's official results page records the final score and venue, while the match commentary identifies the scorers and decisive second-half incidents.

Sabah went ahead through Orphé Mbina after 11 minutes, but Botheim equalized in the 27th. Zlatko Tripić put Viking in front in the 69th minute, Henrik Falchener extended the lead in the 81st, and Botheim completed his double in fourth-minute stoppage time. Sabah's Aden McCarthy was sent off in the 77th minute. The result is final, not a forecast or an upcoming-fixture listing.

Destaques

• Full time: Viking 4–1 Sabah; the halftime score was 1–1.
• Goals: Botheim (27', 90+4'), Tripić (69') and Falchener (81') for Viking; Mbina (11') for Sabah.
• Kickoff and venue: November 4, 2026, 9:00 p.m. in Stavanger (CET, UTC+01:00), equivalent to 20:00 UTC, at Lyse Arena.
• Key turning points: Tripić scored after his penalty was saved; McCarthy received a red card in the 77th minute.

What was the final score of Viking vs Sabah in the Champions League?

The official full-time result was Viking 4, Sabah 1. The game belonged to Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, and the scoreline followed a much closer opening half than the final margin suggests. Sabah led first and reached halftime level at 1–1. Viking then scored three unanswered goals after the break.

Norway was observing Central European Time on the match date because daylight saving time had ended in late October. The official 9:00 p.m. kickoff on November 4 in Stavanger therefore corresponds to 20:00 UTC on the same date. The kickoff shown in some international match feeds as 20:00 is the UTC time, not a separate start.

How did Viking come from behind to beat Sabah 4–1?

Sabah struck first on an attacking move finished by Orphé Mbina in the 11th minute. That early goal briefly put the visitors in control of the score, even though Viking had the home crowd behind them. Erik Botheim answered in the 27th minute, finishing an attack assisted by Kristoffer Haugen and restoring parity before halftime.

The second-half breakthrough came in an unusual sequence. A handball decision gave Viking a penalty, and Sabah goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov saved Tripić's effort. The ball remained in play, however, and Tripić scored from close range in the same 69th minute to make it 2–1. It would be misleading to describe that sequence simply as a successfully converted penalty: the initial spot kick was stopped before the follow-up went in.

Sabah suffered another setback when Aden McCarthy was shown a red card in the 77th minute following a video-review decision that upgraded the original disciplinary action. The dismissal occurred after Viking had already moved ahead, so it was not the cause of the 2–1 goal. It did leave Sabah a player short for the closing stages. Four minutes later, Henrik Falchener headed in from a Tripić delivery to give Viking a two-goal cushion.

Botheim then scored again at 90+4 minutes, assisted by substitute Peter Christiansen, to complete the 4–1 result. The five goals were distributed across both halves, with Viking's three after the interval ultimately deciding a game that had been tied at the break.

Why was this Champions League result important for Viking?

The win represented a milestone in Viking's first campaign in the Champions League proper. UEFA's pre-match statistical preview said the Norwegian side had entered the game with one draw and two defeats, including a 3–3 home draw against Bayern München. Their other previous league-phase games ended in 3–1 losses to Stuttgart and Aston Villa. Beating Sabah converted their first positive home performance into a full three-point victory.

Sabah had arrived with a mixed European record of their own. Their first three league-phase results were a 4–0 loss at Manchester United, a 2–0 home win over Slavia Praha, and a 2–1 home loss to Borussia Dortmund. These earlier scores matter because they show that both clubs had faced major opposition but that neither was assured of a favorable result on Matchday 4.

Based on the four verified league-phase results, Viking moved to four points from four matches while Sabah remained on three points from four. Those are calculated points totals, not an assertion about an independently verified final league-table position. League standings can change as other Matchday 4 matches are completed or updated.

What did the matchup and match events reveal?

UEFA identified this as the clubs' first meeting in one of its competitions. Their contrasting routes into the league phase provided an unusual backdrop: Viking were playing in their debut Champions League proper campaign, while Sabah, founded in 2017, had quickly established themselves in European qualifying competition. Both sides had already scored notable results during October, including Viking's draw with Bayern and Sabah's victory over Slavia Praha.

The verified sequence provides a more useful explanation of the final margin than an unsupported claim that one team dominated for 90 minutes. Sabah led early and held a 1–1 score at the break. Tripić's saved penalty and immediate follow-up changed the lead in the 69th minute; the sending-off eight minutes later made the visitors' recovery harder. Viking then turned the advantage into a clear win through Falchener and Botheim. This is a reading of documented match events, not a claim based on unverified dressing-room information, injuries, or tactical instructions.

Where can fans find official Viking vs Sabah coverage and highlights?

The UEFA Viking vs Sabah match center (fixture 2049624) is the official competition starting point for match details, videos and any subsequently posted UEFA updates. The host club's Viking FK official results confirms the final score and ground. For the goal-by-goal sequence, the Sky Sports original match commentary provides original, timestamped match reporting.

UEFA also maintains a country-by-country directory of Champions League rights holders. It lists TV 2 Norway for Norway and CBC Sport, TVNet and İçtimai TV for Azerbaijan. That list identifies licensed broadcast partners; it does not guarantee that every provider has a full replay or free highlights of this particular game. Viewers should check their provider's current replay catalog or the official UEFA video pages rather than assume a stream is available everywhere.

What comes next for Viking and Sabah in the 2026/27 Champions League?

Both clubs are scheduled to return for Matchday 5 on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. Viking are due to visit Atlético de Madrid, while Sabah are scheduled to host Barcelona. UEFA's league-phase calendar is the appropriate source for confirming any eventual changes in kickoff times or fixtures.

The impact of the November 4 result is therefore established—Viking have a first win and four points—but the next phase remains open. Additional points, goal difference and results elsewhere will determine each team's position as the league phase progresses. Any statement that either side has already qualified or been eliminated would require separate confirmation from the UEFA table and should not be inferred from this single scoreline.

Verified sources

• Viking FK official results — full-time score and Lyse Arena listing.
• UEFA Viking vs Sabah match center (fixture 2049624) and UEFA 2026/27 Champions League league-phase schedule — competition, fixture identification and scheduled kickoff framework.
• UEFA Matchday 4 facts: Viking and Sabah and Viking FK official match preview — official pre-match context and club background.
• Sky Sports original match commentary — scoring sequence, penalty save, card decision and full-time match commentary.
• Viking FK Champions League dates and UEFA official 2026/27 broadcast-partner directory — scheduled future fixtures and regional broadcast partners.

FAQ: Viking vs Sabah

Who won Viking vs Sabah on November 4, 2026?

Viking won 4–1 at Lyse Arena in Stavanger. It was the club's first victory in the Champions League proper.

What time did Viking vs Sabah kick off?

The match began at 9:00 p.m. on November 4, 2026, in Stavanger, CET (UTC+01:00), equal to 20:00 UTC on November 4.

Who scored for Viking against Sabah?

Erik Botheim scored twice (27' and 90+4'); Zlatko Tripić scored in the 69th minute and Henrik Falchener in the 81st. Sabah's goal was scored by Orphé Mbina in the 11th minute.