Morgan Rogers scored a hat trick and Aston Villa overcame a blown two-goal, fifth-minute lead to seal a bye to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds after a 4-2 win over Celtic on Wednesday at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins had a goal and two assists and Jacob Ramsey had two assists in the win, which wasn’t all smiles for Villa as Matty Cash left the pitch in the first half through injury.
MORE — Champions League table
Celtic had harbored hopes of earning a byes to the knockout rounds via a win and help, and Adam Idah’s late first-half goals made it 2-2 before Villa dominated the second half to get all three points.
The win is good enough to get Villa eighth place and a bye, while Celtic’s one-goal loss keeps them in the playoff places, 21st with 13 points.
Aston Villa vs Celtic player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Celtic player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Celtic player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next for Aston Villa, Celtic in the Champions League?
Celtic is No. 21, an unseeded team for the knockout phase playoffs. They will play either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid on Feb. 11 or 12 and Feb. 18 or 19 for the right to play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16.
Villa get a bye to the playoff phase. They will meet either Sporting Lisbon. Club Brugge, Atalanta, or Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Celtic live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Wednesday (January 29)
Venue: Villa Park — Birmingham
TV/Streaming: Paramount+
Aston Villa vs Celtic final score: 4-2
Morgan Rogers 3', 5', 90+1'; Adam Idah 36', 38', Ollie Watkins 60'
Aston Villa vs Celtic live updates
Morgan Rogers hat trick goal — Villa 4-2 Celtic (90+1')
Celtic, Villa subs
The only change through 72 minutes was Villa’s injured Matty Cash leaving for boyhood Celtic supporter John McGinn, but now we’ve got movement.
Celtic take off Arne Engels and Hyun-Jun Yang for Luis Palma and Paulo Bernardo.
Then Lucas Digne exits for Villa, and Ian Maatsen takes his place.
Ollie Watkins penalty kick
Watkins slips taking a penalty, and his shot goes off his front foot.
It takes a well-elevated trip over the goal.
Oh no, Ollie 😬 pic.twitter.com/5Ba9nJecPq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 29, 2025
Ollie Watkins goal — Villa 3-2 Celtic (60th minute)
OLLIE WATKINS GIVES ASTON VILLA THE LEAD 💪 pic.twitter.com/3UshDNoC0p
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 29, 2025
Halftime — Aston Villa 3-2 Celtic
Villa have had a lot more of the ball but the deadlock is not outlandish.
Adam Idah goal!! Villa 2-2 Celtic (38th minute)
Idah has answered Rogers’ earlier quickfire grace when he snaps Hatate’s cross over Martinez!
Adam Idah goal — Villa 2-1 Celtic (36th minute)
Celtic whip in a cross from the left and a sliding John McGinn deflects the ball into the air.
Ex-Norwich City man Adam Idah quickly adapts his body shape to snap a volley past Martinez.
Canadian back denies Watkins
It really could’ve been 3-0, as Aston Villa work a tremendous, cutting team move to Ollie Watkins inside the 18.
Watkins sneaks a chip through traffic that takes a slight turn off the back of Schmeichel’s leg before Alistair Johnston races to the goal line and clears it away to the left.
2-0 Villa, 34'.
Chances at both ends
It had settled down dramatically but here we go.
Reo Hatate has a decent chance for Celtic that cannot defy Emiliano Martinez, and then Villa club a ball through traffic that Schmeichel has to rescue off his goal post.
2-0 Villa, 26'.
Morgan Rogers goal — Villa 2-0 Celtic (5th minute)
And it’s two!
Rogers from well outside the box hits a speculative shot that turns off the toe of Celtic center back Liam Scales to leave a flying Kasper Schmeichel pawing the air.
Jhon Duran is expected to undergo a medical in London on Thursday ahead of a proposed permanent transfer to Al Nassr, according to @David_Ornstein — Villa won't miss him if Rogers continues like this ☄️ pic.twitter.com/prVKB92jOz
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 29, 2025
Morgan Rogers goal — Villa 1-0 Celtic (3rd minute)
Boubacar Kamara, from center back of all places, starts a play that ends with Jacob Ramsey’s drive down the right.
Ramsey has two players available to him, and Rogers races onto the ball to thump home.
THE MAYHEM IS UNDERWAY 💫
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 29, 2025
Morgan Rogers bags his first UCL goal and the first goal of the night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SYRNe9uEcD
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne, Ramsey, Tielemans, Kamara, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins
Celtic lineup
Schmeichel, Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kuhn, Yang, Idah
Aston Villa vs Celtic preview
Villa’s loss to Monaco on Matchday 7 leaves them a goal behind eighth-place Bayer Leverkusen, with the top eight clubs bypassing the playoff round to reach the knockout rounds.
Celtic have one fewer point than Villa’s 13 and could rise into the top eight with a win, but the Bhoys currently have the worst goal differential of the five teams on 12 points and all six teams on 13 points.
Still, Brendan Rodgers men have been flying in Scotland and been a pleasant surprise in this competition. Celtic have only lost once — hammered 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 2 — and boast wins over Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys, and RB Leipzig. They’ve also drawn Atalanta, Club Brugge, and Dinamo Zagreb.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Pau Torres (ankle), Ross Barkley (calf), Amadou Onana (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Tyrone Mings (knee)
Celtic team news, focus
OUT: Odin Thiago Holm (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: James Forrest (foot)
Aston Villa vs Celtic prediction
Celtic are shorthanded as star Kyogo Furuhashi has swapped Glasgow for Rennes, and returning hero Jota is not registered for the UCL league phase. American duo Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers will be up for the challenge provided by Ollie Watkins and Co. but the atmosphere should be electric and Unai Emery knows tournament football even better than Rodgers. Aston Villa 3-1 Celtic.
