Aston Villa vs Celtic team news: Lineups confirmed for Champions League showdown

Unai Emery and Brendan Rodgers have named their lineups for this evening’s crucial Champions League clash at Villa Park.

The time has finally come for Villa’s eighth and final match of the league phase in the UEFA Champions League, the game that could make all the difference for the 2024/25 campaign as a whole. Not only would a top-eight spot secure immediate qualification for the last 16, but it would prevent Villa from adding two more matches to their already hectic February schedule.

With Unai Emery’s side ninth, beating Celtic would give a great chance of finishing in that illustrious top eight. If any one of Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen lose and Villa claim all three points, it would be enough. A substantial enough victory over Celtic would also be sufficient if one of those four teams draws.

Emery has decided to make one change from the starting XI that drew 1-1 with West Ham United on Sunday, bringing in Lamare Bogarde for the injured Tyrone Mings. John McGinn was desperate to start against Scottish opposition but the skipper is named among the substitutes.

Ollie Watkins starts up front despite Arsenal’s recent £60 million bid to sign him was rejected, while Jhon Duran is on the bench amid recent speculation over a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr. Here are the two teams in full.

Aston Villa vs Celtic lineups

Villa XI: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, Ramsey, Bailey; Rogers, Watkins.

Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Zych (GK), Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Patterson, Swinkels, McGinn, Duran, K. Young.

Celtic XI: Schmeichel (GK); Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Engels, Hatate; Kuhn, Yang, Idah.

Celtic subs: Sinisalo (GK), Bain, Palma, McCowan, Nawrocki, Bernardo, Montgomery, Murray, Cummings, Ralston.