Champions League

Aston Villa Survive Scare to Seal Last 16 Spot

Aston Villa secured a spot in the Champions League last 16 with a thrilling 4-2 win over Celtic, despite a brief scare after surrendering an early 2-0 lead. Morgan Rogers starred with a hat-trick while Ollie Watkins played a key role, scoring Villa’s third goal just hours after Arsenal’s interest in him became public. Villa raced ahead within five minutes as Rogers netted twice but Celtic fought back with Adam Idah’s quickfire double to level before halftime.

Watkins nearly made it 3-0 earlier, only to be denied by Alistair Johnston’s goalline clearance. After the restart, Watkins restored Villa’s lead on the hour mark but minutes later, he slipped while taking a penalty, blasting the ball over. Rogers sealed his hat-trick in stoppage time after a defensive lapse from Celtic. Despite Arsenal’s approach, Watkins remained focused, assisting Rogers’ second goal and proving his commitment to Villa.

The 29-year-old, a lifelong Arsenal fan, showed no signs of distraction and Villa remain firm on keeping him especially after securing their place in the knockout rounds. For Celtic, a daunting play-off tie against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid awaits. Manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team’s resilience after a disastrous start, as they regrouped well but ultimately fell short.

Although they rarely threatened to score a third, Celtic demonstrated they can compete at this level, finishing their Champions League campaign with pride. However, to progress further, they must tighten their defense against elite opposition. Aston Villa, finishing eighth in the group stage, now look forward to the next round while Celtic ending 21st, face an uphill battle in their European journey.

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