Celtic suffer major team news blow before Aston Villa clash

Brendan Rodgers won’t be able to select Daizen Maeda in the Champions League for the first time this season as the star forward is suspended.

Maeda has played 581 minutes out of the 630 available so far in the league phase - scoring three goals in the process - but he won’t be adding to that tally. The 22-time Japan international saw red in the 89th minute of the previous outing - the narrow 1-0 win over Young Boys at Celtic Park - so he’s unavailable this midweek.

Adam Idah is the likeliest to take over in attack but the Norwich City man isn’t quite at the level of Maeda, who has contributed an impressive 15 goals and six assists in 31 matches in all competitions. The Japanese’s absence comes as a major blow for Celtic but a big boost for Villa.

Aston Villa eyeing top eight spot

With this the eighth and final match of the league phase in the Champions League, it 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.