Aston Villa secured automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 tonight – albeit via a circuitous route after repelling a Celtic comeback to clinch a 4-2 victory at Villa Park.
Morgan Rogers was the hero with a hat-trick with the other goal coming from Ollie Watkins, the subject of a reported £60million bid from Arsenal earlier in the day.
Watkins also botched a penalty but it mattered not as Villa squeezed home and then had to wait nervously for confirmation of Atalanta’s 2-2 draw at Barcelona before the celebrations could really begin.
The win saw Villa move into the top eight of the new league phase alongside Lille with AC Milan and Atalanta slipping into the playoffs.
A top-eight finish means we will see you in the Champions League Round of 16, Villans 💜 pic.twitter.com/veTwbduOPp
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 29, 2025
Celtic finished in 21st place but they were valiant in defeat, hitting back from conceding twice to Rogers in the opening five minutes thanks to a quick fire Adam Idah brace before half-time.
Villa come flying out of the traps
A night of high drama started almost from the first kick with Villa settling any pre-match nerves inside inside a blistering five minutes.
Just under three minutes had elapsed when Youri Tielemans slipped in Jacob Ramsey down the left and his cross was inch-perfect for Rogers to fire past Kasper Schmeichel.
Celtic were all at sea and Villa took full advantage by scoring again from their next attack.
Watkins picked out Rogers and his 20-yard shot flew past the outstretched arm of Schmeichel and into the top right-hand corner.
IT’S ROGERS AGAIN! 🔥
A divine start for Morgan Rogers who delivers two goals in just FOUR minutes 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aKwjXHAanw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 29, 2025
The goalkeeper will likely feel he could have done better and Brendan Rodgers’ frustration would only have increased when Reo Hatate latched on to a poor ball from Lucas Digne but could only place a tame shot straight at Emi Martinez.
It was a rare foray forward for Celtic and Villa soon regained the upper hand with Ramsey coming within inches of making it 3-0 with a close-range shot that came back off the post before hitting Schmeichel and flashing just wide.
An injury to Matty Cash, who was replaced by John McGinn, did little to halt Villa’s momentum, at least initially, with Watkins seeing a shot cleared off the line by Alistair Johnston in the 32nd minute after he had cleverly lifted the ball over Schmeichel.
Celtic hit back
It was to prove a pivotal moment as within six minutes, Celtic had drawn level.
Their first goal came about following fine work from Greg Taylor down the left with his cross deflected by boyhood Celtic fan McGinn into the path of Idah and he showed great flexibility to volley home with his right foot.
Having been by far the better side, Villa were rocking and they conceded again shortly afterwards. Arne Engels’ clever flick released Hatate and his low cross from the right was swept into the roof of the net by Idah.
CELTIC ARE BACK LEVEL 😎
Adam Idah sees Morgan’s 2 goals in 4 minutes and raises it to 2 goals in 2 1/2 minutes 😵
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/37zPaFzsI7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 29, 2025
After a manic first half, the opening 15 minutes of the second period was sedate in comparison with both sides seemingly still catching their breath.
Perhaps knowing results elsewhere meant they were out of the top eight, Villa had to reassert their authority and they did so on the hour mark.
McGinn freed Ramsey and his pass was inch-perfect for Watkins to fire past Schmeichel.
Villa were back where they needed to be but they continued to make life difficult for themselves. Another mistake from Schmeichel presented the ball to McGinn and his pass ought to have been buried by Watkins but the Danish goalkeeper saved his shot with Rogers firing the rebound wide.
Watkins fluffs his lines
An even bigger opportunity came and went after 67 minutes when Auston Trusty fouled Watkins in the area but the England striker slipped when taking the spot-kick and the ball ricocheted off both feet and flew high over the bar.
Villa kept coming and Schmeichel did well after 71 minutes to keep out Watkins’ crisp shot with his outstretched leg.
Watkins then fired into the sidenetting when well placed before Schmeichel produced a trademark sprawling stop to deny the former Brentford man.
The fourth goal finally came in stoppage time.
Watkins 🤝 Rogers
Rogers gets his hattrick to make it 4 goals for Villa 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aanAT3OkD0
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 29, 2025
Substitute Dane Murray slipped and although Schmeichel did enough to stop Watkins, Rogers was on hand to score.
And when news filtered through from Catalonia that Atalanta had been held, the party got underway.