All of the pre-match chat had surrounded the futures of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, nevertheless it was Morgan Rogers – an £8million signing from Middlesbrough this time final 12 months – who stole the present and fired Aston Villa into the last-16 of the Champions League.
Rogers set a brand new Champions League report by turning into the primary participant within the competitors to attain twice within the opening 5 minutes of a match after which accomplished his hat-trick in time added on for stoppages.
With Villa turning down a bid simply wanting £60million from Arsenal for Watkins and accepting a proposal price over that determine for Duran from Al-Nassr, what worth Rogers who have to be one of many best-value signings of the previous 12 months.
Rogers had an evening to recollect in entrance of England supervisor Thomas Tuchel and – due to Atalanta’s draw at Barcelona – the victory was sufficient for Villa to complete eighth within the league section of the Champions League and go straight by to the final 16.
This has been a improbable experience for Villa. On their method to a top-eight end, the membership have crushed Bayern Munich, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Younger Boys and now Celtic, whereas drawing with Juventus. They may face both Membership Brugge, who beat them within the league section, Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta within the final 16.
That’s some achievement for a membership competing in Europe’s high competitors for the primary time in 41 years and but it ought to have been much more snug, as Watkins skilled the strangest of nights.
The striker scored his first-ever Champions League aim to revive Villa’s lead within the second half, however he missed a penalty in embarrassing trend and squandered probability after probability which might have so simply been costly for the hosts.
It was exhausting to not surprise if curiosity in him from Arsenal, his boyhood membership, had received into the top of Watkins and Villa will hope he can get better his cool if Duran strikes to Saudi Arabia and he sticks round because the membership’s undisputed first-choice striker.
The final time Villa followers had wanted to maintain an in depth eye on different outcomes was on the ultimate day of the Premier League season in 2020, after they prevented relegation by drawing at West Ham United.
Again then, it was Watford and Bournemouth Villa had been apprehensive about. However fast-forward 5 years and supporters wanted their telephones and radios to verify the outcomes of Barcelona, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Villa needed to watch for affirmation of Atalanta’s draw after the ultimate whistle and that end result was greeted by celebrations on the pitch and within the stands.
What proved to be an anxious evening for the house facet seemed as if it was going to be as simple as they arrive, when Villa raced right into a two-goal lead inside 5 minutes.
The opening aim got here within the third minute, as Youri Tielemans set Jacob Ramsey away down the left and he crossed completely for Rogers to attain.
It was the ahead’s first-ever Champions League aim and it solely took a few minutes for him to web his second. This time Watkins performed the ball to him 20 yards from aim and Rogers’ shot took a deflection on its well beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
There was a blow for Unai Emery on the half-an-hour mark as Matt Money was compelled off with an harm, which meant Lamare Bogarde moved to right-back and boyhood Celtic fan John McGinn was despatched on in midfield.
Considered one of McGinn’s first touches was to deflect a Greg Taylor go into the trail of Adam Idah, who beat Emi Martinez from shut vary to cut back the deficit to at least one aim and two minutes later Idah shocked Villa Park by pulling Celtic stage.
This time it was Reo Hatate who performed the ball into the six yard field and Idah received in entrance of Bogarde to attain. Emery signalled to his gamers for calm, however he would have been livid that the sport had not been put to mattress.
Earlier than Celtic’s first aim, Ramsey had been barely unlucky to hit the bottom of the publish after a header had not been cleared correctly and Watkins was responsible of losing an excellent probability. The striker dinked the ball previous Schmeichel, nevertheless it was far too gentle and Alistair Johnston cleared off the road with relative ease.
Duran had pulled faces on the tv cameras after taking his place again on the bench for the beginning of the second half, however there was a rising sense he may be wanted to attempt to produce one thing particular.
The very fact he didn’t get on advised its personal story and Watkins scored his first Champions League aim on the hour mark to place Villa forward once more. The aim owed to some very good play from McGinn, who turned and ran with the ball earlier than discovering Ramsey, who gave Watkins the best of duties.
Watkins instantly squandered one other good probability. Schmeichel made a large number of a clearance, sending the ball straight to McGinn, who teed up his team-mate. However the Celtic goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving Watkins’ shot.
There was worse to observe for Watkins, as he missed a penalty in embarrassing trend. It was the England worldwide who gained the spot-kick after taking place below a problem from Auston Trusty. However a nervous trying Watkins slipped as he kicked the ball on to his standing foot to ship it excessive over the crossbar.
Schmeichel produced an excellent save along with his foot from Watkins, who additionally hit the side-netting. However Rogers accomplished his hat-trick to ship Villa into the final 16 of a contest they may barely dream about qualifying for not so way back.
10:02 PM GMTPlay-off spherical
Celtic will play both Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich. As will Manchester Metropolis (ie the opposite group).
10:01 PM GMTVilla go straight by to final 16 in eighth
Celtic and Man Metropolis are within the play-offs.
Atalanta’s 2-2 draw with Barcelona let Villa leapfrog them:
09:56 PM GMTFull time: Villa 4 Celtic 2
What an pleasurable recreation that was. Villa’s entrance 4 had been terrific, Celtic had some excellent moments themselves however couldn’t match the house facet for probabilities. Villa created about eight, Celtic three at most.
09:52 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 4-2 Celtic (Rogers) He has the matchball now (or certainly one of them given the multiball system). Younger Murray dawdles in his space, hoping the ball was going out of play nevertheless it didn’t have the tempo and Watkins snaps into him to select off his late backpass to Schmeichel. The keeper tries to dive to knock it away along with his hand however Watkins faucets it spherical him and passes to Rogers to fireplace dwelling as Schmeichel lay supine.
09:52 PM GMT90 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Three extra minutes of stoppage time.
09:51 PM GMT89 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Martinez chews up a while by taking some time with the ball at his ft earlier than taking part in it out and triggering a quickfire raid during which Rogers hares down the proper and squares it inches in entrance of Watkins’ run into the center of the field.
09:49 PM GMT87 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Celtic free-kick on midway that they play again to Schmeichel, appearing as if they’ve on a regular basis on the planet. They nonetheless have sufficient which is all that counts.
09:47 PM GMT85 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Martinez goes route one up the center to Watkins who tries to move it on to Rogers however Trusty will get between then to win it.
09:46 PM GMT83 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Celtic make their final throw of the cube with the bench:
McCowan → HatateMurray → Scales
09:44 PM GMT81 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Schmeichel to the rescue once more. Bailey is 10 yards contained in the Celtic half after which performs a beautiful go along with his left foot inside Trusty that bends completely into Rogers’ path after peeling away. Rogers takes it into the field and places his laces by a shot however Schmeichel, as we’ve seen through the years comes sliding out on one knee to make a protracted barrier along with his different leg and stops the drive.
09:40 PM GMT79 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
One other probability for Watkins on the left of the realm however he slices this one into the sidenetting.
Celtic substitution:
Idah → Cummings.
A senior debut for the Scotland U19 ahead.
09:39 PM GMT77 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Kuhn sends Idah working down the proper with a cute go and the centre-forward retains working nearly to the byline, beating Maatsen and takes on the shot from a good angle tahtw ould have snuck contained in the close to publish however for Martinez’s positioning and agency block.
09:37 PM GMT75 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Ch-ch-changes:
Maatsen → Digne.
Bernardo → EngelsPalma → Yang.
England supervisor Thomas Tuchel and his assistant Anthony Barry are right here at Villa Park, and Morgan Rogers will definitely have caught the attention.
Rogers was referred to as as much as Lee Carsley’s closing squad and absolutely needs to be in Tuchel’s ideas after his efficiency tonight.
The dynamic attacking midfielder performs ready the place there’s plenty of competitors, however his progress over the past six months has been exceptional.
Ollie Watkins is an England common already however has simply produced a contender for worst penalty of the season, lacking an opportunity to place Villa within the driving seat.
09:34 PM GMT74 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Hatate shoots from 25 yards having beens et up by Kuhn. He wraps his instep round it and bends it away from Martinez nevertheless it whistles previous the publish.
09:33 PM GMT72 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
McGinn bullocks again 60 yards to cease Yang breaking by on aim.
09:33 PM GMT70 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Terrific save along with his proper leg as he did the splits from Schmeichel. It got here from a nook on the proper, flicked on by Tielemans and Konsa gained two tackles within the field to knock it to Watkins to shoot from 15 yards.
09:28 PM GMT67 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Missed! He did a John Terry and slipped then booted it along with his proper instep into his left ankle and the ball balloons over the bar!
That’s unimaginable! And really humorous until you’re a Villa fan in fact.
09:27 PM GMT65 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Villa penalty for Trusty’s foul on Watkins which, I believe, may be very unfortunate. He appears to have gotten the ball first however the VAR sticks with the referee’s choice. Watkins to take.
09:26 PM GMT63 min: Villa 3 Celtic 2
Schemichel cleans up his personal mess. Trusty had extra tempo than Watkins down the Villa left and handed the ball again to his keeper who tried a straight go as much as McGregor however McGinn learn it and pounced on it and performed it to Watkins 12 yards out however Schmeichel flew out and made a surprising block. Ought to have been 4-2.
Unai Emery has been telling his gamers to stay calm, because the environment turns into more and more tense right here at Villa Park.
Emery clearly felt the possibilities will come and so it has proved with Ollie Watkins placing Villa again in entrance on the hour.
Watkins had been struggling tonight, maybe in gentle of that failed bid from Arsenal, however that was a medical end.
09:21 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 3 Celtic 2 (Watkins) Villa transfer the ball 80 yards in 5 seconds after a Celtic assault breaks down within the Villa field. Rogers takes the go simply outdoors his personal field, rolls Taylor and performs it infield to McGinn who darts 20 yards ahead, spins Engesl who caught him up and feeds a go as much as Ramsey who has Watkins for firm and solely Trusty between him and Schmeichel. He attracts Trusty to him and steers a go inside to Watkins who slots his shot into the underside left nook.
09:17 PM GMT56 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Sloppy go from Celtic permits Rogers an opportunity to go for his hat-trick from 20 yards with a left-foot daisycutter shot that beats Schemeichel’s dive however creeps previous the publish.
09:16 PM GMT54 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
McGinn takes a fast free-kick to ship Bailey down the left. He has Watkins for firm inside him and tries to seek out him with a squarish go however places it behind him and Trusty will get to it first.
09:14 PM GMT52 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
One other slick transfer from Villa down their proper with Bailey and Rogers combining and Rogers making an attempt to chop it again to place it on a plate for Ramsey to the proper of the penalty spot. However Johnston learn his intentions and raced over to intercept. The proper-back is taking part in very effectively after being completed for the primary Villa aim.
09:12 PM GMT50 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Watkins dribbles up the left and into the field however loses his approach and has to show to his left and search Ramsey’s assist. Celtic defend the second section of the transfer effectively.
09:11 PM GMTThe full story from our reporters at Villa Park on the chants
09:09 PM GMT48 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Villa are slowing the tempo down and horse-shoeing the ball round, making an attempt to check Celtic’s endurance. After which they ignite right into a fast transfer up the proper that ends when Bailey beats Taylor and Yanh scythes him down however escapes and not using a yellow card.
09:08 PM GMT46 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Watkins hounds Trusty who holds him off and passes again to Schmeichel and Celtic play out. McGinn crunches into Hatate late to concede a free-kick.
09:06 PM GMTJhon Duran replace
TNT Sports activities is reporting that John Duran may have a medical with Al-Nassr tomorrow earlier than tying up a £77 million switch to the Saudi Professional League.
09:00 PM GMTHalf-time verdict
Unai Emery was down the tunnel earlier than the half-time whistle had even blown, with a face like thunder.
He won’t have loved the final ten minutes of that half, with Celtic allowed again into the sport and Villa displayed some relatively dodgy defending.
Because it stands, Villa are out of the top-eight and set to overlook out on mechanically qualifying for the spherical of 16 in March.
Emery will even level to a missed probability from Ollie Watkins at 2-0 up as a significant turning level.
Villa now have all of it to do, and no one might have foreseen this after that electrical begin.
08:51 PM GMTHalf-time: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Properly, that was a pleasure to look at. Two objectives in two minutes from Rogers and two in reply in two from Idah.
08:50 PM GMT45+3 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Konsa fires extensive with a left-foot shot 15 yards out from the nook which Villa took brief.
08:49 PM GMT45+2 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Tielemans fizzes a positive go up the inside-left, straight into Rogers’ stride however Johnston is in like Flynn to knock it behind for a nook.
08:47 PM GMT45+1 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Digne appears to be like leggy tonight to those eyes, with out the standard punishing bursts that assist him surge previous right-backs.
08:46 PM GMT45 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
We’re going to have three minutes of added time for the harm to Money and a few delays to restarts.
08:46 PM GMT43 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
What a cracker of a match. Bogarde tries to duplicate Money’s Duracell bunny working however stalls at midway.
This recreation has been fully flipped on its head, and it’s now the Celtic followers making all of the noise.
Adam Idah has scored twice in two minutes to briefly stun Villa Park, and never many might have seen this coming.
Each objectives got here after some hesitant defending from the house group. May Unai Emery’s lengthy record of defensive absentees now show expensive?
08:44 PM GMT41 min: Villa 2 Celtic 2
Celtic look terribly weak on the counter-attack and to the slickness of Villa’s entrance 4 however since Money went off they haven’t had that further lung-bursting raod runner bombing on to take care of. And after they have the ball, the talent of Hatate, Engels and Kuhn involves the fore.
08:39 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 2 Celtic 2 (Idah) Something Rogers can do … Good aim. Celtic work the ball between Johnston and Kuhn excessive up the proper then play it to Engels who, faving his personal aim, flicks a wonderful go between Digne and Kamara to Hatate who whips over a cross that Idah buries forcefully from shut vary once more.
08:36 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 2 Celtic 1 (Idah) Celtic handle to get a full-back excessive and when bailey is dispossessed, Hatate sprays a positive go out to Taylor on the overlap forward of Yang. The left-back whips over a Barnes-Wallis of a cross that McGinn slides in to try to knock behind however meets it on ethe bounce and spoons it as much as Idah who lashes a volley dwelling. Good end. Good aim.
08:35 PM GMT34 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
How Watkins fails to attain right here is past the ken of most observers. One other fast counter-attack with Ramsey, Bailey and Rogers to the fore, filled with zippy passing and nimble motion, units up Watkins, 12 yards out. Schmeichel scrambles to attempt to shut him down however Watkins dinks it over his legs however doesn’t get sufficient energy on it and because it skids in the direction of the goal-line, Johnston hares over from right-back in addition it away.
08:33 PM GMT32 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Yang has twice had an opportunity to place Hatate or Idah by however tousled the ultimate ball. They’re inflicting Villa issues on the left of their defence and on the proper of deep midfield. Small pockets.
08:32 PM GMT30 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Bogarde switches to right-back and McGinn slots into central midfield.
One other defensive harm for Villa and this time it’s right-back Matty Money.
With Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings already out, dropping Money might be an enormous blow for Unai Emery.
John McGinn has changed Money with quarter-hour remaining within the half.
Celtic have responded after going two objectives down so early nevertheless it seems Villa are heading for the spherical of 16.
08:30 PM GMT28 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Kuhn has the beating of Digne once more however his cross is straight at Martinez and he triggers an assault that breaks down when Money twangs his hamstring and has to go off. One other defensive casualty.
McGinn → Money.
08:29 PM GMT26 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Possibilities at each ends, the primary to Celtic when Hatate pounces on Digne’s mistake and bounds down the inside-right however tries to tackle Martinez from 18 yards when he might have gone into the field and bends his shot straight down the World Cup winner’s throat.
Then up the opposite finish Watkins takes down Martinez’s lengthy go with ease and units up Money to cross and a weak defensive header falls to the left of the penalty spot and Ramsey scuffs a shot on to the left publish and it bounces straight into Schemeichel’s grateful arms.
08:26 PM GMT23 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Tielemans floats over the free-kick, Scales heads it out to the sting of the field and Celtic get our bodies out to dam the shot.
The present chant from the Celtic finish is ‘In case you hate the royal household, clap your arms.’
08:23 PM GMT21 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Trusty is first to a protracted chip upfield from Martinez. Bailey, Digne and Ramsey overload him and as he tries to carry them off he will get too tough with Digne and bundles him over. Free-kick on the left for Villa, parallel with the penalty spot.
08:21 PM GMT19 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
‘It’s an ideal efficiency so removed from Aston Villa,’ says Neil Lennon. The motion of Rogers, Bailey, money and Ramsey has been sensational to date.
08:19 PM GMT17 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Money rakes a shot throughout aim from the proper that Scales will get shut sufficient to dam.
08:18 PM GMT15 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Some Celtic followers are nonetheless intent on mocking the late Queen with their Michael Fagan banner
08:14 PM GMT13 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Header from Kamara going through his personal aim stops Kuhn’s second try to seek out Idah with a cross. Kuhn’s go and fizzing crosses are a significant weapon for Celtic tonight. Digne could also be in for a protracted evening of shuttle runs.
08:13 PM GMT11 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Good work from Bailey to get again and assist Money out when Hatate and Yang had been threatening to overman him. On the opposite wing Kuhn burns previous Digne andwhips over a cross for Idah that’s hacked away.
08:11 PM GMT9 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
Higher from Celtic, utilizing the rhythm of their passing to breed confidence and Kuhn even has a shot that doesn’t hassle Martinez. However a particular enchancment.
A lot for Celtic making a superb begin – it’s been a exceptional opening 5 minutes for Villa.
Morgan Rogers has scored twice to place the hosts forward and Celtic are everywhere.
The second aim was not a second Celtic defender Liam Scales or goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will need to see once more, with Rogers’ shot taking an enormous deflection.
Celtic followers had been very noisy however seem shocked.
08:10 PM GMT7 min: Villa 2 Celtic 0
If there’s one one who must cath their breath greater than a Celtic fan, it’s a blogger. Celtic haven’t completed a lot flawed with the ball however Villa have been mustard.
08:06 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 2-0 Celtic (Ramsey) Konsa steps in entrance of Idah to nick Schmeichel’s go to midway and performs it upfield. Thirty-three seconds after Celtic kicked off it’s behind their web once more when Rogers shoots from 18-yards after a go from Watkins and it takes a slight brush off the defender’s toe and loops up and over Schemeichel’s dive with spin and dip.
08:04 PM GMTGOAL!
Villa 1-0 Celtic (Rogers) Intelligent go from Kamara down the left for Digne who turns to face his personal aim and roll it again to Ramsey. He performs a fast one-two with Tielemans, races into the field and squares it for Rogers to complete crisply from eight yards.
08:03 PM GMT2 min: Villa 0 Celtic 0
Bailey makes a fast dart up the within proper with Money making the dummy run outdoors to occupy Taylor. He pings a go to Rogers within the D anticipating a one-two return however Rogers places it behind him.
08:02 PM GMT1 min: Villa 0 Celtic 0
Celtic kick off, attacking from proper to left and transfer the ball swiftly again to Johnston who shifts it throughout the again 4 and again up the left for Idah to run at Money earlier than doubling again.
Bogarde is in midfield with Kamara, as John percy predicted, at centre-back.
All about how Celtic begin this match towards Villa’s patched up defence.
Boubacar Kamara is an excellent participant however won’t have operated within the centre of defence for a while.
There’s additionally the inexperience of Lamare Bogarde, so Celtic might be below directions to use the stress early on.
Unbelievable environment right here.
07:59 PM GMTThe groups are popping out
Villa in claret and blue, Celtic of their khaki camo package. Villa followers have a large banner or tifo with Ozzy Osbourne on it proclaiming ‘Up the Villa’.
07:44 PM GMTA son in each camps
Nothing warms my coronary heart greater than seeing my sons passionately supporting their groups! 💚💜💙Whether or not it is the roar of Villa Park or the joys of Celtic Park, they’re at all times cheering with full hearts and loud voices. This is to loyalty, custom, and the love of the attractive…
07:39 PM GMTChampions League stay desk for tenth spherical of fixtures07:33 PM GMTUnai Emery comes over all coy about his defence07:29 PM GMTMeaty, beaty, not huge however bouncy
What an evening this guarantees to be for John McGinn aka ‘Meatball’.
The Villa midfielder has been a key participant within the membership’s rise from the Championship to the Champions League, since becoming a member of for the common-or-garden payment of £2.75m from Hibernian in 2018.
He might so simply have been lining up within the jersey of Celtic tonight, after selecting Villa forward of the Glaswegian giants all that point in the past.
McGinn has solely simply returned from a hamstring harm, and was by no means going to overlook this one.
He’ll undoubtedly be pissed off at beginning on the bench, nevertheless it appears inevitable he’ll seem sooner or later.
07:27 PM GMTFocus on Celtic’s Arne Engels
By Mitchell Corridor
Regardless of just lately finishing the re-signing of Jota from Rennes, Celtic are unable to deploy the Portuguese winger of their Champions League squad tonight. With star striker Kyogo Furuhashi departing the opposite approach in that deal, they should discover their stand-out performer elsewhere, and there’s nobody higher than versatile Belgian midfielder Arne Engels.
The 21-year-old signed from Augsburg in Germany for £11 million and has been key to Celtic’s midfield since, getting ahead and serving to to orchestrate assaults. He has chipped in with objectives as effectively, sitting joint third in Celtic’s high SPL scorers this season, with six.
Regardless of a penalty miss final week of their fixture towards Swiss membership Younger Boys, Engels has tailored effectively to taking part in European opposition, and might be raring to go tonight towards Unai Emery’s males.
07:22 PM GMTCeltic’s Inexperienced Brigade take to the stands
07:16 PM GMTTNT Sports activities has Stiliyan Petrov and Martin O’Neill as pundits
And right here they’re with Brendan Rodgers:
“Any probability of me asking him a query?!” 😂
Stiliyan Petrov was eager to ask Brendan Rodgers ALL the questions ⁉️
07:13 PM GMTYour groups in black and white
Aston Villa Martinez; Money, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey;, Watkins.Substitutes Olsen, Zych, McGinn, Duran, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Swinkels, Patterson, Younger.
Celtic Schmeichel; Johnston, Scales, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor; Kuhn, Hatate, Yang; Yang.Substitutes Sinisalo, Bain, Palma, McCowan, Nawrocki, Bernardo, Montgomery, Murray, Cummings, Ralston.
Referee Clément Turpin (France)
07:05 PM GMTVilla prep disrupted by Watkins bid
Aston Villa’s preparations for this recreation have additionally been disrupted by Arsenal’s bid for striker Ollie Watkins.
Although Villa have turned down the opening bid, Unai Emery is livid with the timing of the provide coming hours earlier than a vital Champions League recreation.
It comes simply over per week after a “derisory” bid from West Ham for Jhon Duran forward of Villa’s penultimate group recreation towards Monaco.
Watkins begins tonight and Duran – who stays a goal for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia – has simply been fortunately posing for selfies with dwelling supporters.
Emery is more likely to be field workplace after the sport when the topic of Arsenal’s bid is introduced up.
06:59 PM GMTI assume it’s honest to say…
…tensions are rising outdoors Villa Park.
Some skirmishes between rival followers forward of Aston Villa v Celtic match tonight. Some flares thrown and police have moved followers again. Large policing operation throughout Birmingham forward of recreation.
06:56 PM GMTSecurity ramp up
Celtic followers have began arriving at Villa Park and have been welcomed by a heavy police and safety presence.
06:49 PM GMTIdah leads the road for Celtic06:48 PM GMTVilla group information
Bogarde begins in central defence. He’s the nephew of Winston, the Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995 and bête noir of Ken Bates.
06:45 PM GMTThat Arsenal provide for Watkins
By Jason Burt
Aston Villa have been left unimpressed by the timing of an method from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins on the eve of their Champions League recreation towards Celtic.
It’s the second successive time Villa’s preparations for an vital Champions League match have been overshadowed by a Premier League rival declaring an curiosity in certainly one of their gamers.
West Ham United on the eve of their defeat to Monaco final week and it’s understood Arsenal made a proposal just below £60 million for Watkins within the build-up to Wednesday evening’s go to of Celtic.
06:43 PM GMTA fireplace has damaged out on the Etihad, outdoors the stadium
You possibly can observe
06:41 PM GMTEmery determined to win ‘Battle of Britain’
Aston Villa are assured of a play-off place however Unai Emery is determined to win ‘The Battle of Britain’ and safe a top-eight spot.
Emery’s Villa can e book a spot within the spherical of 16 with a win over the Scottish champions and hope for Atalanta to both lose or draw away at Barcelona.
Villa have been plunged right into a defensive disaster forward of the sport, with Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres injured, whereas Diego Carlos was bought to Fenerbahce final weekend.
It implies that defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara is predicted to play centre-back – a task he has beforehand performed at former membership Marseille.
Celtic are already assured a spot within the knockout levels however there’s nonetheless a lot on the road and this has the texture of an enormous evening in Birmingham.
06:40 PM GMTFor the mathematicians amongst you
06:39 PM GMTAnd right here’s Martin O’Neill
When Aston Villa host Celtic within the Champions League on Wednesday, watching from the Villa Park tv studio might be an observer with a completely knowledgeable perspective.
is certainly one of solely two males – alongside Billy McNeill – to have managed each golf equipment. And although they’ve by no means earlier than met in a aggressive match there’s one factor he found, quickly after taking cost at each, they’ve in frequent: continental historical past. Albeit in a time that now appears projected completely in sepia, each have gained Europe’s foremost membership trophy.
“Oh, that historical past is important,” says O’Neill. “I don’t assume it is best to downplay that previous. At each golf equipment I completely needed to embrace it. That they had gained the European Cup, the one trophy each participant price their salt ought to chase. I needed the gamers to recollect the previous, be impressed by it, not be intimidated by it.”
06:36 PM GMTSome pre-match studying
Whether or not it’s dropping his voice roaring them to a well-known victory, or slumping along with his head in his arms watching them crash to an agonising defeat, the Prince of Wales has taken centre stage throughout return to European soccer.
However all eyes at Villa Park might be on the inheritor to the throne like by no means earlier than if he attends their first aggressive assembly with . For not solely is Wednesday evening’s Champions League conflict certainly one of Villa’s largest matches in his lifetime, they’re taking part in the one British membership whose followers have made it abundantly clear they’ll by no means settle for him as their king.
06:32 PM GMTPreview: All ears on Celtic
Good night and welcome to stay protection of Aston Villa’s Champions League match towards Celtic which begins with each golf equipment assured a play-off place however with Villa in ninth (on the identical variety of factors however one aim behind Bayer Leverkusen) kindling firmer hopes of clinching a high eight spot, and therefore a bye in to the Spherical of 16, than Celtic in 18th. Having stated that, just one level separates the 2 sides, demonstrating the clustering impact of the Swiss mannequin, so Celtic might technically power their approach into the highest eight however it’s extremely unlikely given the unfold of fixtures between golf equipment forward of them during which, in fact, each can’t lose. Up for grabs for them, then, is a spot from ninth to sixteenth which might give them a seeded place in Friday’s draw for the play-offs and a house second leg.
Villa come into tonight’s match with stories suggesting they’re incandescent a couple of £60 million bid from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins submitted at this time. In addition to coping with that unwelcome grenade, additionally they have a disaster at centre-back. Since dropping Pau Torres to harm and promoting Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce, Tyrone Mings harm his medial ligament in the course of the draw with West Ham they usually haven’t any cowl apart from their two Dutch 21-year-olds, Lamare Bogarde and Sil Swinkels. Unai Emery switched Lucas Digne infield from left-back after Mings went off however, in Paul Merson’s splendid analogy, he seemed like ‘a fish up a tree’ in that function. Ought to he stick with that tonight there should be some vulnerability between him and Ian Maatsen for Celtic to take advantage of even with out Kyogo Furuhashi, bought to Rennes for £10 million this week, and Daizen Maeda, who’s suspended.
Whether or not the Prince of Wales, who has usurped Ozzy Osbourne and Nigel Kennedy because the Villans most high-profile fan, and Sir Rod Stewart are at Villa Park for the primary assembly of the 2 golf equipment appears to be exercising reporters past the sports activities desk, significantly with reference to some Celtic supporters’ republican sympathies and their bad-taste approach of expressing them. It’s Celtic’s first aggressive match in England since a 1-1 draw with Man Metropolis at Etihad Stadium in 2016 and as such they are going to be below specific scrutiny for any off color chants.
