Aston Villa

Latest updates

  1. 'Magnificent' Rogerspublished at 23:37 29 January

    Morgan RogersImage source, Getty Images

    Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock says "Morgan Rogers is at the heart of everything good" in Unai Emery's team.

    Speaking on the Champions League special Match of the Day: "More often than not, when you look at a youngster you want goals and assists and against Celtic, he was outstanding.

    "He is another who has had up and downs in the squad, but on a whole he has been magnificent."

  2. Emery on Watkins and Duran futurepublished at 23:03 29 January

    Watkins scoresImage source, Getty Images

    Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT, on whether Jhon Duran will leave the club: "Tomorrow or Friday we can talk about the transfer, or maybe next week. Until everything is done I don't want to speak because in football everything can happen. The club is working and trying to compete in the transfer window because we need some players. Some can leave, but it is not time to speak about it."

    "I don't know if Duran is leaving but if he is, it is good news for us because he is leaving because it is good money. It is for the club, the players and the team. I don't know if he will leave or not.

    "Watkins is our striker."

    On Arsenal's bid for Ollie Watkins: "I know you want to ask about it, but I told you, today is not the day."

  3. 'We've got the hunger, the drive and a manager who pushes us every day'published at 22:43 29 January

    Morgan RogersImage source, Getty Images

    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."

    On being the first player in Champions League history to score twice in the 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."

  4. Rogers makes UCL historypublished at 22:13 29 January

    Morgan RogersImage source, Getty Images

    Morgan Rogers is the first player in Champions League history to score twice in the opening five minutes of a game in the competition.

  5. Final standingspublished at 22:11 29 January

    Final standings of league stage

    Full time whistles have blown across Europe.

    Liverpool claimed the top spot and are joined in the top eight by two other Premier League teams - Arsenal and Aston Villa.

    That means they progress directly to the last-16.

    Manchester City's 3-1 victory books their place in the knockout play-off phase alongside Celtic.

  6. What's the latest on Arsenal's reported bid for Watkins?published at 19:54 29 January

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring a goal for Aston Villa at ArsenalImage source, Getty Images

    There are several reports of an Arsenal bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

    BBC Sport has been told by a source Villa have no intention of selling the forward, who has 10 goals in 31 games this season.

    Villa are unhappy with the timing of the news of the reported £60m bid, which broke just hours before their Champions League game against Celtic.

    Outlets, including the Press Association, have reported the offer, while the Daily Mail has written it has been rejected.

    BBC Sport is looking into those reports to try to verify any approach.

    Arsenal have been approached and have so far declined to comment.

    Aston Villa's Unai Emery is expected to address the issue in his post-match news conference.

  7. Follow Wednesday's Champions League games livepublished at 18:08 29 January

    A graphic showing players from all 20 Premier League clubs with the text: "Follow the teams you care about. Sign in or create an account for the latest news, expert opinion, fan views and stats, and to get notifications."
    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.

    All four English teams take part in Wednesday's Champions League action.

    • Aston Villa v Celtic

    • Girona v Arsenal

    • Man City v Club Brugge

    • PSV v Liverpool

    All kick-off times 20:00 GMT

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

  8. Aston Villa's group stage in picturespublished at 16:08 29 January

    Henry Brownsey
    BBC Sport journalist

    Aston Villa have a great chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League in their first season in Europe's elite club competition for 41 years.

    The likeliest route to a top-eight finish for Villa is that they beat Celtic and Atalanta fail to beat Barcelona away.

    Alternatively, Villa would overtake Bayer Leverkusen if they win by two goals more on the night (eg. 3-0 to Villa, 1-0 to Leverkusen).

    Here's how it has unfolded so far.

    Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring for Aston VillaImage source, Getty Images

    In their first-ever Champions League game, Villa triumphed in Switzerland with a 3-0 win over Young Boys.

    Goals from Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana ensured Unai Emery's side got off to the perfect start.

    Jhon Duran and Aston Villa players celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    Their second game of the campaign was a repeat of Villa's 1982 European Cup final success against Bayern Munich.

    Jhon Duran scored nine minutes after coming on and then Emi Martinez produced heroics to save Harry Kane's header in the dying minutes of the game and secure three points.

    John McGinn celebratingImage source, Getty Images

    More success came at Villa Park 20 days later, with Duran on the scoresheet once more as Villa won 2-0 against Bologna.

    John McGinn got the other, his free-kick evading everyone to clinch the victory.

    Emiliano Martinez and Aston Villa players surround the refereeImage source, Getty Images

    The first bump in Villa's campaign came against Club Brugge when Tyrone Mings was penalised in controversial fashion for handball in the penalty area.

    The Belgian side scored the spotkick and held on to win 1-0, spoiling Unai Emery's second anniversary at the club.

    Ross Barkley and Aston Villa players celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    A 0-0 home draw with Juventus followed before Villa travelled to Germany to face RB Leipzig.

    Unai Emery's side went ahead twice through McGinn and Duran only for Leipzig to peg them back each time. However, two minutes after coming off the bench, Ross Barkley scored a deflected winner to win the game 3-2 and take Villa up to third place in the table.

    Monaco players celebrate Image source, Getty Images

    Finally, Villa missed the chance to effectively qualify for the last 16 against Monaco as the French side won 1-0.

    However, Villa still approach tonight's game in a very promising position to automatically progress to the knockout stages. Opta's supercomputer gives Emery's side a 52.6% chance of finishing in the top eight, and a 76.8% chance overall of getting through to the last 16.

  9. Verdict on new Champions League formatpublished at 14:59 29 January

    Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown and BBC Sport's John Bennett join Ben Croucher on The Football News Show to discuss why they feel the revamped Champions League format has been a success and why we should be excited by the final round of group games on Wednesday.

    Media caption,

    Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

    Watch on BBC iPlayer banner
  10. Aston Villa struggles 'worth it' for Champions League nightspublished at 09:27 29 January

    John McGinn consoles and injured Tyrone MingsImage source, Getty Images

    Aston Villa look a "very tired team" from their Champions League exploits so far, but it is still "worth it" says fan and host of Married to Claret and Blue podcast Rupert Pybus.

    Unai Emery's side have the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League top eight when they host Celtic on Wednesday night.

    Having been plagued by injury issues this season, Villa will be desperate to avoid the two additional games required should they finish ninth or below.

    "I think we've played seven times in the league after Europe, and we've lost or drawn six times," Pybus told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "We don't play well afterwards.

    "We're a very tired team at the moment, and that's where Celtic have a big chance because again, we played quite poorly at the weekend, particularly in the second half and we looked shattered.

    "They had the weekend off because of the storms, so I think it's a good opportunity for Celtic. However, Villa have spent 40 years in the wilderness outside the Champions League, and so that's a positive thing.

    "We're all really enjoying it, and even if it means that we've had to accept some poor league form, we have had amazing nights against Bayern, beating Bologna, and nearly beating Juventus. So, it's been worth it, even if we're struggling along.

    "I think overall, the Villa fans are just delighted."

    Listen back on BBC Sounds