Celtic to face Real Madrid or Bayern in play-off
Villa go straight into last 16
Rogers scores twice in stunning opening five minutes for Villa
Idah scores twice in short order to haul Celtic level before break
Watkins restores Villa's lead then suffers horror penalty miss
Rodgers completes hat trick in stoppage time after Murray error to seal win
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
We'll bring the curtain down on this live text tonight, but it's far from the end of Celtic's Champions League run.
While it didn't go to plan tonight, the bedlam at Villa Park sums up their ultimately successful campaign.
I'll leave you with Thomas Duncan's piece, while there will be plenty more reaction over on our dedicated Celtic page.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on Sportsound
It was a great game. An unbelievable start for Villa, and you thought maybe this would be a long night.
Celtic got themselves back in the game with some really good play, but Villa dominated the second half.
They controlled the tempo of the game, and it was a really strong performance.
Celtic stuck at it and you have to give them credit. They stuck to it and put everything into it. They can take some confidence from it because at times they looked good.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Callum McGregor made his 499th appearance for Celtic tonight.
He could hit the big 500 on Sunday against Motherwell.
Image source, SNSFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Chris Sutton
Former Celtic striker on Radio 5 Sports Extra
There is no doubt that Celtic will go into a tie with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich as massive underdogs, but they have earned the right to be in the play-offs.
I have been pleasantly suprised by them in this Champions League campaign. They have shown maturity and that they have made progress.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
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FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers speaking to Uefa: "Definitely the highlight of my career so far. It's a crazy experience and a crazy game to be a part of. It's a massive achievement and we should be proud of ourselves.
First player in CL history to score twice in opening five minutes: "It's something we had to address starting games behind and giving ourselves a mountain to climb. Still something to work on but the good start is something to put us on the right foot.
"I felt we were on top for the large majority. We scored two goals and that's what changed the game. We are a bit shorthanded at the back at the moment. We got the win.
"We had to dig deep, we know we can, we do it in the Premier League every week. We thoroughly deserve it. We've got the hunger and the drive and we've got a manager who pushes us every day."
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Celtic have qualified for the Champions League knockout phase despite losing 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund earlier on this season in the group stage.
They are the first side to lose a game by 6+ goals in the group stage but still qualify for the knockouts.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Of the draw, Brendan Rodgers added, "it's a huge challenge".
"We have qualified on merit and showed quality on the way. We carried threat throughout the night. Just unfortunate we concede the fourth late on with the mistake.
"We know it's either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the next round, so that'll be a huge challenge. We're building confidence and showing we're a team that can play and make it difficult for the top teams.
"Whoever we play are clearly top-level teams."
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
"[Adam Idah] done really well," Brendan Rodgers added. "Those are two big goals for him, and how we created the goals was very good.
"He is where he should be in the box, he was a handful all night and that will be big for his confidence.
"The experience we've gained will have given the players confidence. We know we can make it really difficult for teams.
"I've really enjoyed [the new format]. I'm pretty sure there would have been a level of excitement tonight with who you might get. I've enjoyed the variance of the games.
"Scotland gets a wee bit of stick in its football. You can clearly see we have teams who have courage to play. We're nowhere near the resource levels of teams in the Premier League, but we can still be competitive."
Image source, SNSFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Idah scores double to draw Celtic level
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Image source, SNSCeltic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoke of his pride at "playing our part in a really good game".
"It was a brilliant game to be involved in. The word that strikes me at the moment is pride.
"We're coming to a team that over the last couple of years have been at the highest level in the Premier League. We played with so much courage.
"They get the first goal and a quick second and then there's a question asked of you as a team, everything about you. But the players continued to play, we started to get into contention, got our aggression back and that gave us the opportunity.
"We scored two very good goals, and overall to take the game to injury time was a great effort. We're obviously disappointed to lose but we played our part in a really good game.
"That was always the objective, to come in and be competitive at this level. You see the work we need to do to improve the squad, to really be able to sustain that challenge. We were having to bring on young players who haven't played for Celtic before."
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Adam Idah became the first Celtic player to score at least two goals in an away game in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League since Johannes Edvaldsson and Bobby Lennox both netted braces against Jeunesse d'Esch in September 1977.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on Sportsound
Celtic will look to sign someone, but at this point in time, Adam Idah is the first-choice striker for Celtic.
He's taken his chance tonight with the two goals. He can be happy with his night's work.
Image source, SNSFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
His first word and feeling?
"Pride".
Image source, SNSFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Brendan Rodgers has just pitched up in his post-match presser.
We'll bring you his thoughts as soon as possible.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Morgan Rogers is the first player in Champions League history to score twice in the opening five minutes of a game in the competition.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Celtic were up against it from the off, Pat!
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Celtic were up against it in the second half. Villa controlled the game.
There weren't really any Villa mistakes for Celtic to capitalise on, but it was a good performance to come back.
Villa just had too much on the night for them.
FT: Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| |
| 3 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| |
| 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| |
| 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 7 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 9 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| |
| 10 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| |
| 11 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| |
| 14 | PSV | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
|
| 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| |
| 16 | Benfica | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
|
| 17 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| |
| 18 | Brest | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 13 |
|
| 19 | Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
|
| 20 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| |
| 21 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 22 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 11 |
| |
| 23 | Sporting CP | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
|
| 24 | Club Brugge | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
|
| 25 | Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 11 |
|
| 26 | Stuttgart | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 10 |
|
| 27 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 7 |
|
| 28 | Bologna | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 6 |
|
| 29 | Red Star Belgrade | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 6 |
|
| 30 | Sturm Graz | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 6 |
|
| 31 | Sparta Prague | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
| 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
| |
| 33 | Girona | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
|
| 34 | Red Bull Salzburg | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 27 | -22 | 3 |
|
| 35 | Slovan Bratislava | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 0 |
|
| 36 | Young Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | -21 | 0 |
|
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
UEFA Champions League
All competitions
Aston Villa and Celtic will meet for the very first time; the Villans’ only previous European fixture against a fellow British club came in 2023-24 UEFA Conference League qualifying, winning 8-0 on aggregate against Hibernian.
Celtic have drawn each of their last three games against English opposition in the UEFA Champions League, drawing 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City in their most recent such game in December 2016.
Only one Scottish side has ever won away from home against an English opponent in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, with Celtic themselves beating Leeds United in April 1970 (1-0). Since then, English sides have gone unbeaten across the seven such fixtures (W5 D2).
Celtic won their final game of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League last season (2-1 v Feyenoord), while they’ve never previously done so in back-to-back campaigns.
Celtic have qualified beyond the group stage/league phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012-13. The Hoops have won three matches in the competition this term, last winning more in a European Cup/Champions League edition in 1973-74 (4), when they reached the semi-finals.
Aston Villa were beaten away to Monaco last time out in the UEFA Champions League (0-1). However, Unai Emery hasn’t lost consecutive games in the group/league phase of the competition since the 2015-16 campaign with Sevilla (Villa are the third side he’s managed in the competition since then).
Celtic have only won one of their last 21 away games in the UEFA Champions League (D5 L15), and are winless in 11 since beating Anderlecht in September 2017 (3-0). They have avoided defeat in the most recent two, though, drawing 0-0 against both Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has won nine of his 19 career meetings with Aston Villa (D4 L6), with Crystal Palace (10 wins) being the only English side he has recorded more victories over in the dugout.
Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers are still looking for their first UEFA Champions League goals for Aston Villa (seven appearances each, 10 shots for Watkins, and 14 shots for Rogers). Indeed, the only player to attempt more shots without scoring than Morgan Rogers (14) in the competition this season is Milan’s Theo Hernández (15).
Based on the quality of shots on target faced (via xG on target), only Paulo Gazzaniga (+5.1) has prevented more goals than Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez in the UEFA Champions League this season (+4.7 – four conceded from 8.7 xGoT). Overall, the Argentinean has saved 31 of the 35 shots on target he’s faced this term (88.6%).
