Aston Villa obtained an automatic qualification for the champions league ring this evening – although by circuit after having pushed a Celtic return to win a 4-2 victory at Villa Park.
Morgan Rogers was the hero with a hat -trick with the other goal from Ollie Watkins, the subject of a reported offer of 60 million pounds from Arsenal earlier during the day.
Watkins also bothered a penalty, but it didn’t matter when Villa hugged the house and then had to nervously wait for confirmation of the 2-2 draw from Atalanta to Barcelona before the celebrations could really to start.
The victory saw Villa move to the first eight of the new league phase alongside Lille with AC Milan and Atalanta slipping into the playoffs.
A finish greater than eight means that we will see you during the final of the Champions League of 16, Villans 💜 pic.twitter.com/vetwbduopp
– Aston Villa (@AvfCofficial) January 29, 2025
Celtic finished in 21st place, but they were valiant on defeat, hitting the concedation of twice in Rogers in the first five minutes thanks to a quick Adam Idah brace fire before half-time.
The villa steals traps
A night of high drama started almost from the first kick with a villa adjusting all the pre-match nerves inside inside a blister.
A little less than three minutes had passed when your Tielemans slipped into Jacob Ramsey at the bottom left and his cross was perfect for Rogers to pull in front of Kasper Schmeichel.
Celtic was all at sea and villa took full advantage of it by marking their next attack again.
Watkins chose Rogers and his 20 yards shot flew over the tense arm of Schmeichel and in the upper right 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 probably think he could have done better and the frustration of Brendan Rodgers would only have increased when Reo Hatate hung on a bad ball of Lucas Digne, but could only place a tamed shot directly on EMI Martinez.
It was a rare incursion forward for Celtic and Villa quickly found the upper hand with Ramsey a few centimeters to do it 3-0 with a raptive outlet shot that came from the post before hitting Schmeichel and blinking rightly.
An injury to Matty Cash, which was replaced by John McGinn, did nothing to stop the momentum, at least initially, with Watkins, seeing a shot erased by Alistair Johnston in the 32nd minute after he had Intelligently raised the ball on Schmeichel.
Celtic struck
It was to prove a pivotal moment as in the six minutes, Celtic had pulled a level.
Their first objective came to follow the beautiful works of Greg Taylor at the bottom left with his cross deflected by the fan of Celtic McGinn of childhood in the path of Idah and he showed great flexibility in theft at the House with his right foot.
Having been by far the best side, Villa was swung and they conceded again shortly after. The intelligent film by Arne Engels released the habit and its low cross on the right was swept in the roof of the net by the Idah.
Celtic is at the back level 😎
Adam Idah sees the 2 goals of Morgan in 4 minutes and increases 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 first half-time maniac, the first 15 minutes of the second period were calm compared to both sides which apparently resume their breath.
Perhaps the knowledge of the results elsewhere meant that they were outside the first eight, Villa had to reaffirm their authority and they did it on time.
McGinn released Ramsey and his pass was perfect for Watkins to pulled in front of Schmeichel.
Villa was back where they were to be, but they continued to make their lives difficult. Another error from Schmeichel presented the ball to McGinn and his pass should have been buried by Watkins, but the Danish goalkeeper saved his shot with Rogers pulling the large rebound.
Watkins was eating its lines
An even greater opportunity took place and passed after 67 minutes when Auston Trusty defeated Watkins in the region, but the England striker slipped when he kicked and the ball ricocheted on Both feet and stole high on the bar.
Villa continued to come and Schmeichel did after 71 minutes to prevent Watkins’s net shot with his tense leg.
Watkins then shot Sidenetting when it was well placed before Schmeichel produced a sprawling stop to refuse the former Brentford man.
The fourth goal finally arrived in time.
Watkins 🤝 Rogers
Rogers obtains his Hattrick to reach 4 goals for villa 🔥
📺 @Tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/aanat3okd0
– Football on TNT SPORTS (@footballontnt) January 29, 2025
The replacement Dane Murray slipped and although Schmeichel was doing enough to stop Watkins, Rogers was on site to score.
And when the news filtered from Catalonia that ATALANTA had taken place, the party began.