Aston Villa look to end the Champions League league phase on a high, when entertaining Scottish giants Celtic on Wednesday evening (ko 8pm).
Unai Emery's side have already secured their place in the round of 32 heading into the eighth and final matchday, though could automatically advance straight to the last 16 by finishing in the top eight, should they win and other results fall in their favour.
The Villans will be looking to bounce back from disappointment in the competition last week, when they were undone by Wilfried Singo's eighth-minute header in Monaco. All 18 final league phase fixtures kick off at the same time on Wednesday, on what promises to be an exciting, entertaining night of European football.
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Emery's men take on Celtic for the first time in history in a competitive outing, Brendan Rodgers' side having already booked a round of 32 spot of their own, with a 1-0 win over Young Boys last week. Indeed, the Hoops still hold an outside chance of making the top eight of the table themselves.
Like Villa, the Glasgow-based outfit have one European Cup title to their name, having become the first British team in history to lift the famous trophy, when beating Inter Milan 2-1 in 1967, Jock Stein's side earning the nickname the 'Lisbon Lions', with the final staged in the Portuguese capital.
Despite making the final again three years later, losing 2-1 to Feyenoord after extra time, the 54-time Scottish champions have failed to make it out of the group stage since 2013, when they were defeated in the round of 16 5-0 on aggregate, by Juventus.
They currently sit 10 points clear of nearest challengers Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table, with a game in hand, and have three wins, three draws and one defeat from their seven Champions League outings thus far.
Stats
Based on the quality of shots on target faced (via xG on target), only Paulo Gazzaniga (+5.1) has prevented more goals than Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez in the UEFA Champions League this season (+4.7 – four conceded from 8.7 xGoT). Overall, the Argentinian has saved 31 of the 35 shots on target he’s faced this term (88.6%).
Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers are still looking for their first UEFA Champions League goals for Aston Villa (seven appearances each, 10 shots for Watkins, and 14 shots for Rogers). Indeed, the only player to attempt more shots without scoring than Morgan Rogers (14) in the competition this season is Milan’s Theo Hernández (15).
![Emi Martínez.jpg Emi Martínez](https://img.gc.avfcservices.co.uk/fit-in/1000x1000/0b874780-dd72-11ef-aa18-357f01b91aae.jpg)
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has won nine of his 19 career meetings with Aston Villa (D4 L6), with Crystal Palace (10 wins) being the only English side he has recorded more victories over in the dugout.
Celtic have only won one of their last 21 away games in the UEFA Champions League (D5 L15), and are winless in 11 since beating Anderlecht in September 2017 (3-0). They have avoided defeat in the most recent two, though, drawing 0-0 against both Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb.
Aston Villa were beaten away to Monaco last time out in the UEFA Champions League (0-1). However, Unai Emery hasn’t lost consecutive games in the group/league phase of the competition since the 2015/16 campaign with Sevilla (Villa are the third side he’s managed in the competition since then).
Celtic have qualified beyond the group stage/league phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012/13. The Hoops have won three matches in the competition this term, last winning more in a European Cup/Champions League edition in 1973/74 (4), when they reached the semi-finals.
Celtic won their final game of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League last season (2-1 v Feyenoord), while they’ve never previously done so in back-to-back campaigns.
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Only one Scottish side has ever won away from home against an English opponent in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, with Celtic themselves beating Leeds United in April 1970 (1-0). Since then, English sides have gone unbeaten across the seven such fixtures (W5 D2).
Celtic have drawn each of their last three games against English opposition in the UEFA Champions League, drawing 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City in their most recent such game in December 2016.
Aston Villa and Celtic will meet for the very first time; the Villans’ only previous European fixture against a fellow British club came in 2023/24 UEFA Conference League qualifying, winning 8-0 on aggregate against Hibernian.
Matchday Seven
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Celtic guaranteed their place in the Champions League round of 32 last week, with a 1-0 win over Young Boys at Celtic Park on Matchday Seven.
The hosts started strongly, as Kyōgo Furuhashi had three first-half goals chalked off - two for offside and one for a foul in the build-up - before Arne Engels saw his penalty saved just before the break.
And, after Auston Trusty's header had hit the bar, and Callum McGregor forced a smart stop from Marvin Keller from distance, Celtic's pressure finally told four minutes from time, substitute Adam Idah forcing an own goal from Loris Benito.
There was still to be late drama in Glasgow, as Daizen Maeda was shown red following a VAR check for lashing out at Mohamed Ali Camara, but Celtic stuck it out to secure all three points.
Team News
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Unai Emery refused to rule out Tyrone Mings for the game, after revealing the issue which led to his early withdrawal against West Ham on Sunday was "not a big injury".
Villa will remain without Amadou Onana, Pau Torres and Ross Barkley, while Donyell Malen and Andrés García cannot be registered for the Champions League until after the league phase.
Brendan Rodgers will be without Cameron Carter-Vickers for the clash, the defender missing out with a knock, with Daizen Maeda suspended following his dismissal against Young Boys.
New signing Jota cannot be registered until after the league phase, while Rodgers confirmed left-back Alex Valle had returned to parent club Barcelona from his loan spell with the Bhoys. James Forrest remains sidelined.
Managers' Pre-Match Thoughts
“They are a very prestigious club, who’ve won the Champions League. We are excited and motivated with our supporters to enjoy this way. [It] is a very good opportunity here against Celtic. I know it’s a special match for our supporters. It’s fantastic to play Champions League matches, it’s fantastic to play against Celtic.”
Unai Emery
“I think Unai Emery’s done a brilliant job here... so we know that we’re playing against his team, which is a very good side, very strong in counter-attack, they defend very well and they’ve got some brilliant players, but it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to.”
Brendan Rodgers