Aston Villa secured their place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side bypassed the knockout play-offs, finishing inside the top eight in the league phase, and will now face one of Club Brugge, Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, or Atalanta in the next round.
Morgan Rogers was the hero of the night, scoring a stunning hat-trick, while Ollie Watkins also got on the scoresheet despite missing a penalty. In a fast-paced, end-to-end battle, both teams played with intensity, making this encounter one of the most exciting matches of the Champions League group stage.
Morgan Rogers’ Rapid Rise and Villa’s Early Blitz
Morgan Rogers’ meteoric rise over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable. Just twelve months ago, Villa signed him from Middlesbrough for £7 million, and now he has marked his Champions League campaign with a hat-trick.
Villa wasted no time stamping their authority on the game, scoring twice in the opening five minutes.
Jacob Ramsey orchestrated the first goal with a sharp exchange of passes with Youri Tielemans, breaking into space and delivering a low cross into the box. Rogers reacted quickest, side-footing the ball past Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to give Villa an early 1-0 lead.
Before Celtic could regroup, Villa struck again just moments later. A defensive mistake from Celtic allowed Ezri Konsa to pounce, setting up an attacking sequence that involved Lamare Bogarde and Ollie Watkins. Rogers took the shot, which deflected off Liam Scales, looping over Schmeichel and into the net.
With just over four minutes played, Villa were 2-0 up, and it seemed like they were heading for a comfortable win.
Celtic’s Fightback Stuns Villa Park
Despite the early setback, Celtic showed tremendous resilience, and their response was almost immediate.
Alistair Johnston’s goal-line clearance denied Villa a third goal, and just moments later, Celtic turned the game around with two quick goals.
Greg Taylor provided a moment of quality down the left flank, cutting inside before squaring the ball for Adam Idah, who calmly finished to pull one back for Celtic.
That goal shifted the momentum, and Celtic took full advantage. Hyunjun Yang delivered a low cross into the box, catching Villa’s defense off guard. Idah was again in the right place, slotting home his second goal to make it 2-2 before halftime.
Suddenly, Villa’s comfortable lead had evaporated, and Unai Emery was urging his side to stay composed as Celtic threatened to take control.
Ollie Watkins Restores Villa’s Lead, Then Misses a Penalty
Villa regrouped at halftime and emerged in the second half determined to reassert dominance. The breakthrough came on the hour mark when John McGinn showed exceptional strength to outmuscle Arne Engels before releasing Jacob Ramsey down the flank.
Ramsey delivered a perfect assist for Watkins, who slotted the ball past Schmeichel to put Villa back in front at 3-2.
The home crowd erupted in celebration, but their nerves were tested once again when Watkins won a penalty after being fouled by Auston Trusty.
Stepping up to take the spot-kick, Watkins slipped at the crucial moment, sending his effort soaring over the crossbar. It was a frustrating moment for the striker, but Villa still held the lead.
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Rogers Completes His Hat-Trick and Villa’s Victory
Despite the missed penalty, Villa remained in control, and Rogers completed his hat-trick in the dying moments.
A long-range effort from the young midfielder looked to be routine for Schmeichel, but the experienced goalkeeper made a crucial mistake, fumbling the ball and allowing Rogers to score his third goal of the night.
1️⃣, 2️⃣ & 3️⃣ for @morgz_10 tonight pic.twitter.com/8tSRd9s3mf
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 30, 2025
With that, Villa sealed a 4-2 victory, confirming their place in the Champions League Round of 16 and avoiding the unpredictability of the knockout play-offs.
Match Stats – Aston Villa vs Celtic
Final Score: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Goalscorers:
Morgan Rogers (Villa) – 2’, 5’, 88’
Ollie Watkins (Villa) – 60’
Adam Idah (Celtic) – 22’, 26’
Shots: Aston Villa 16 – Celtic 8
Possession: Aston Villa 58% – Celtic 42%
Pass Accuracy: Aston Villa 89% – Celtic 81%
Corners: Aston Villa 7 – Celtic 4
Villa’s Potential Champions League Last-16 Opponents
With this result, Aston Villa finished inside the top eight, securing automatic qualification for the Round of 16.
They will now face one of the following teams:
- Club Brugge
- Sporting Lisbon
- Borussia Dortmund
- Atalanta
Unai Emery’s side will be confident heading into the knockout stage, given their recent form and attacking firepower.
What’s Next for Aston Villa?
This Champions League campaign has been a dream return to European football for Aston Villa. With Morgan Rogers emerging as a breakout star and the team playing with confidence and intensity, Villa now look like a genuine contender for a deep run in the tournament.
The Champions League Round of 16 draw will soon determine their next challenge, but with their strong performances, Villa fans have every reason to be optimistic about their chances of advancing further.
For now, Unai Emery’s men can celebrate a historic night at Villa Park, knowing they have secured their place among Europe’s elite.
