Aston Villa vs Celtic: Live Stream, Prediction & Lineups

0 3 minutes read

Aston Villa vs Celtic: Preview, Team News & Prediction

The first phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will conclude on Wednesday, with all 18 matches—including Aston Villa vs Celtic—taking place simultaneously. Both teams are still in contention for a top-eight finish, which guarantees automatic qualification to the Round of 16.

Aston Villa and Celtic have been among the most impressive teams in this season’s competition. Although Villa holds a narrow one-point lead over Celtic, the visitors have suffered just one defeat in the Champions League and will be confident of a strong performance at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s men fell to a 1-0 defeat against AS Monaco in their last UCL outing, dropping to ninth place. Meanwhile, Celtic edged BSC Young Boys 1-0 despite being down to 10 men, climbing to 18th in the standings.

Domestically, Villa was held to a 1-1 draw against West Ham United over the weekend, while Celtic enjoyed a rested break, giving them an advantage in terms of freshness. Interestingly, this will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Aston Villa and Celtic, making it a highly anticipated clash.

Team News & Tactical Preview

Aston Villa

Villa has been hit with a fresh injury concern, adding to their growing list of absentees. Tyrone Mings is ruled out with a knee injury sustained against West Ham, joining Pau Torres (foot), Amadou Onana (hamstring), and Ross Barkley (calf) on the sidelines.

Emery will set up his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on defensive stability while exploiting Celtic’s backline with quick transitions.

Predicted Aston Villa Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez
Defenders: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Boubacar Kamara, Ian Maatsen
Midfielders: Youri Tielemans, John McGinn; Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, Leon Bailey
Striker: Ollie Watkins

With Kamara filling in at center-back, Tielemans and McGinn will provide the midfield control, while Bailey and Ramsey offer width and creativity. Watkins will lead the attack, aiming to open his UCL goal-scoring account.

Celtic

Like Villa, Brendan Rodgers has selection headaches, missing three key players. Daizen Maeda is suspended following his red card against Young Boys, while James Forrest (foot) and Odin Thiago Holm (calf) remain sidelined. Meanwhile, Kyogo Furuhashi has departed for Stade Rennais, reducing attacking options.

Celtic is expected to maintain its usual 4-3-3 setup, prioritizing ball retention while looking to hurt Villa with quick counterattacks.

Predicted Celtic Lineup (4-3-3):

Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel
Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Greg Taylor
Midfielders: Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate
Forwards: Nicolas Kuhn, Adam Idah, Luis Palma

With McGregor anchoring the midfield, Hatate and Engels will look to break through Villa’s defensive lines. Meanwhile, Idah, in good form, will be Celtic’s primary attacking threat, with Kuhn and Palma supporting from the flanks.

Key Stats to Watch

First-ever meeting between Aston Villa and Celtic in any competitive fixture.
Aston Villa’s only previous European tie against a Scottish club came in 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying, where they thrashed Hibernian 8-0 on aggregate.
Celtic has drawn their last three UCL matches against English teams, including a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in 2016.
Only one Scottish side has ever won away to an English team in the UCL, with Celtic beating Leeds United 1-0 in 1970.
Celtic has advanced past the UCL group stage for the first time since 2012/13, winning three matches this season—their best European run since 1973/74.
Unai Emery has not lost back-to-back UCL group/league phase games since 2015/16 with Sevilla.

Player to Watch – Ollie Watkins

Embed from Getty Images

Ollie Watkins has been a standout performer for Villa this season but is still searching for his first-ever UCL goal after seven appearances (10 shots). The 29-year-old forward will be eager to end that drought, especially with Jhon Duran pushing for a starting role.

Watkins remains a vital component of Villa’s attack and, with his movement and finishing ability, could be the difference-maker in this crucial encounter.

Aston Villa vs Celtic Prediction

Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic

Both teams are evenly matched, and with so much at stake, a closely contested affair is expected. Villa will look to bounce back at home, but Celtic’s resilience and freshness could prove decisive. A high-scoring draw seems likely, keeping both sides in the hunt for qualification.