Celts lose out against Aston Villa but now look ahead to UCL play-off clash | OneFootball

UEFA Champions LeagueLeague phase, matchday eightWednesday, January 29, 2025Villa Park, Birmingham

ASTON VILLA… 4 (Rogers 3, 5 & 90+1, Watkins 60)

CELTIC…2(Idah 36 & 38)

Celtic’s valiant effort at Villa Park fell short as Aston Villa edged a pulsating encounter 4-2 in the final game of the UEFA Champions League league phase.

Second-half strike from Ollie Watkins and a hat-trick from Morgan Rogers proved decisive, despite the Hoops battling back from 2-0 down early in the game.

The result sees Brendan Rodgers' side finish 21st in the UCL league phase table, and they will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off round, with the draw taking place on Friday.

Aston Villa opened the scoring in just the third minute when Jacob Ramsey surged into the box before cutting the ball back to Rogers, who calmly slotted the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.

Moments later, Rogers doubled Villa’s advantage with a moment of sheer quality. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, the in-form forward curled a superb effort beyond Schmeichel to send the home crowd into raptures.

Celtic’s shaky start began to settle as they created their first chance in the eighth minute. Adam Idah battled with Boubacar Kamara to win possession on the by-line, cutting the ball back, but with no one in the box, Villa cleared. The ball eventually fell to Nicolas Kuhn, but his left-footed strike went wide of Emiliano Martinez’s goal.

Villa continued to press, with Jacob Ramsey and Rogers causing problems for the Celtic defence. Matty Cash nearly added to Villa’s lead in the 15th minute, but Liam Scales defended bravely to block the Polish right-back’s effort.

Celtic had a golden opportunity to punish an Aston Villa mistake in the 25th minute when Reo Hatate intercepted a loose pass from Lucas Digne but his effort was comfortably saved by Martinez.

A minute later, Villa nearly added a third when Ramsey’s close-range shot hit the post and spun up into Kasper Schmeichel’s arms.

The home side were forced into an early substitution in the 29th minute as Matty Cash left the pitch injured, replaced by Scotland internationalist and club captain John McGinn.

The change gave Celtic an opening to exploit down Villa’s right-hand side, and the Hoops capitalised brilliantly later in the half.

But it was the home side who came close to a third in the 32nd minute when Ramsey’s cutback found Leon Bailey, who slipped the ball to Ollie Watkins. Watkins chipped the ball past Schmeichel, but Alistair Johnston’s heroic clearance off the line kept Celtic in the game.

Then came the turning point. In the 36th minute, Celtic found a lifeline. Greg Taylor, Yang, and Reo Hatate combined superbly down the right before Taylor delivered a dangerous cross into the box. John McGinn, sliding in, inadvertently deflected the ball into Adam Idah’s path, and the Irish striker made no mistake to fire the ball home.

And Celtic struck again just two minutes later. Arne Engels found Hatate with a superb flick  into the box and his perfectly-placed delivery found Idah in the box, with the Irish striker finishing superbly to make it 2-2 at the break

The second-half began with Aston Villa threatening to regain the lead. Leon Bailey broke down the left in the 49th minute, but his low cross couldn’t find a team-mate as Auston Trusty cleared the danger.

Five minutes later, Morgan Rogers, searching for his hat trick, pounced on Arne Engels’ hesitation, but his tame left-footed effort trickled harmlessly past Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.

But Villa restored their lead in the 60th minute through Watkins, capping off a clinical counter-attack. John McGinn powered forward and played in Jacob Ramsey, who found Watkins in space. The striker slotted the ball past Schmeichel for his 11th goal of the season, putting the home side 3-2 ahead.

Villa almost doubled their advantage just three minutes later. Watkins pressured Trusty into a loose back pass, allowing McGinn to intercept. McGinn set up Watkins, whose close-range shot was denied by a superb save from Schmeichel.

Drama unfolded in the 65th minute as Villa were awarded a penalty after Watkins was brought down in the box by Auston Trusty. The striker stepped up to take the spot-kick, but in a moment of embarrassment, he slipped, sending the ball wildly over the bar and handing Celtic a lifeline.

Celtic sought to capitalise on the reprieve, with Reo Hatate coming close in the 73rd minute. Nicolas Kuhn’s clever play set up Hatate, whose curling effort seemed destined for the net but crept just past the post.

Moments later, Adam Idah broke free and had support from Luis Palma, but his attempt to squeeze the ball in at the near post was saved by Martinez.

Villa continued to threaten, with Watkins firing into the side-netting in the 76th minute, and in the game’s closing stages Schmeichel once again came to Celtic’s rescue, denying Rogers in the 80th minute when the forward attempted a clever chip over the experienced goalkeeper.

However, Morgan Rogers sealed the victory and his hat-trick in added time after Watkins pounced on a defensive mistake in the box. The midfielder received the ball and fired it into the Celtic net to take the match ball home.

However, Brendan Rodgers' side will now look forward to Friday's play-off draw and the prospect of facing either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.