Celtic Eye Top Spot in Champions League Group as They Face Aston Villa

Celtic will face Aston Villa in their final Champions League group stage match, with Brendan Rodgers' side seeking to finish as high as possible in the table.

Aston Villa faces a high-stakes showdown against Celtic on Wednesday, with the team's hopes of automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 hanging in the balance. Villa currently sits ninth in the standings, and only the top eight teams are guaranteed to advance directly to the last 16. The teams that finish between ninth and 24th place will be forced to navigate a nerve-wracking play-off round to determine the final eight clubs that will progress.

Villa's position is precarious, as they trail eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen by just one point. To avoid the play-offs, Unai Emery's side will likely need to secure a victory over Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic at Villa Park. The team's chances of advancing were dealt a significant blow last week, as they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Monaco. A win in that match could have almost sealed their last-16 berth.

🗣️ "It's very good to enjoy football like that, very deep football."

Unai's full press conference is now live on VillaTV 📺

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 28, 2025

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is confident that his team can handle the pressure of this critical match. “It isn't pressure, it's something we deal with every time we step out onto the football pitch, that's no different. We enjoy it,” Mings said. While acknowledging the importance of the Celtic match, Mings emphasized that every game has its own unique challenges. “It's obviously a very big game next week, but they all are in their own way,” he added.

Mings' own availability for the Celtic match is uncertain, after he suffered a first-half knee injury during Sunday's 1-1 draw against West Ham. The influential centre-back left the pitch in tears, sparking fears that he may miss the crucial Champions League clash.

🎙️ Full media conferences with Brendan Rodgers and Paulo Bernardo ahead of #AstonVillaCeltic.

📺 Watch now on YouTube ⤵️#UCL | #CelticFC🍀

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 28, 2025

Aston Villa's Champions League Fate Hangs in the Balance

Celtic has secured a playoff spot in the Champions League after defeating Young Boys 1-0 in Glasgow last week. However, Brendan Rodgers' 18th-placed side is unlikely to take it easy against Aston Villa, as they aim to finish as high as possible in the table and potentially secure a more favorable play-off opponent. Celtic also has a point to prove after suffering a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in their most daunting league phase match.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel believes that the team has learned from their experience in Dortmund and has bounced back strongly. ”I think we learned our lesson in Dortmund and bounced back really well. Sometimes you learn when you have a tough time,” Schmeichel said. He also praised the team's overall performance, saying, “Barring one game, we have been solid, we have been very good. We have had some very mature performances.” Schmeichel attributed the team's success to their ability to stay humble and keep learning. “That's the mark of the squad, we never get carried away, we stay humble and keep learning.”

Celtic will travel to Villa Park well-rested, having had their Saturday game against Dundee postponed due to damage caused by Storm Eowyn. However, Brendan Rodgers' side will be depleted by the absence of Japan internationals Daizen Maeda, who is suspended, and Kyogo Furuhashi, who completed a move to Rennes on Monday. Although the departure of Kyogo was softened by the return of winger Jota from Rennes, Jota is not eligible to play on Wednesday.

The match between Aston Villa and Celtic is expected to be a high-intensity clash, and West Midlands police are taking steps to prevent potential crowd trouble. The match is the latest in a series of volatile clashes between English and Scottish clubs, and authorities are hoping to keep the peace.