Aston Villa and Celtic meet in a crunch Champions League fixture with a top-eight finish potentially on the line on what promises to be a dramatic night of European football.
Unai Emery’s side start a busy night just outside of the placings that would secure direct progression to the last 16. Guaranteed at least a play-off place, the hosts can go for broke in search of a victory that may be enough to earn a spot – though they are reliant on those above them slipping up.
Celtic are only one point behind their final matchday opponents as they travel south, so could conceivably finish in the top eight, though will require a win and several other results to go their way.
A night of thrills and spills is surely in store as a controversial new format delivers the sort of entertaining, unpredictable finale that was promised.
Follow all of the latest from Villa Park in our live blog below:
KICK-OFF! Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic
Back underway in Birmingham. If the second half is anywhere near as good as the first half. we’re in for a treat.
Villa are currently down to 13th in the Champions League table but one goal could change everything for them
Luke Baker29 January 2025 21:06
HALF-TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic
A half-chance for Villa as they win a corner and the ball falls to Konsa int he box but his shot flashes wide. And that’s half-time!
What a half of football! Morgan Rogers had Villa in complete control at 2-0 up inside five minutes before they also hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line.
But then a quickfire Celtic response as Adam Idah scored twice in three minutes towards the end of the half has levelled things up. Who knows what the second 45 will bring?
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:49
Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic, 45 mins
Three minutes added time at the end of the half. I think we all need half-time to catch our collective breath!
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:46
Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic, 42 mins
Wow! What a turnaround here. Fair play to Celtic, brilliant comeback. How much did Matty Cash’s injury affect Villa? They’ve not been the same team since he’s gone off.
Scales leaves one in on McGinn to give away a free-kick.
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:43
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic (Adam Idah, 38 mins)
OH MY WORD! Out of nowhere, it’s suddenly 2-2. It’s Adam Idah again. What a half of football!
A glorious backheel from Engels takes two defenders out of the game, frees Yang on the right and he fizzes a ball across the box where Idah is on the spot six yards out to turn the ball into the net. Good No 9 play from the ex-Norwich man!
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:40
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Celtic (Adam Idah, 36 mins)
Yes they can make the breakthrough! Bailey loses concentration and Taylor is free down the left.
His low cross deflects off a sliding John McGinn and, from six yards out, Adam Idah acrobatically stretches and pokes the ball into the net. That was good flexibility from Idah, who hadn’t scored for 12 games before this – that will do him the world of good as he tries to replace Kyogo Furuhashi.
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:39
Aston Villa 2-0 Celtic, 34 mins
Aston Villa have been too good so far and could easily be more than 2-0 ahead.
Celtic showing flashes and they’re having some joy down the right but can they get a breakthrough?
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:36
OFF THE LINE! Aston Villa 2-0 Celtic, 32 mins
Watkins has to score! Villa break in numbers, Ramsey plays it inside to Bailey, he helps it on to Watkins who takes a touch and slots the ball past Schmeichel but Celtic right-back Johnston slides to clear the ball off the line.
Brilliant defending but Watkins should never have given him the opportunity to clear it.
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:34
Aston Villa 2-0 Celtic, 30 mins
McGinn takes the captain’s armband as he comes on. He’s had a hamstring injury himself recently and is only just back fit.
It looks like he’ll go into midfield, Kamara will move from CM to centre-back and Bogarde will switch to right-back. Sub-optimal set-up but needs must
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:33
Aston Villa 2-0 Celtic, 28 mins
This is a worry for Villa. Cash goes down and looks in some pain – it might be his calf. He’s been bombing up and down the right flank so far this evening.
Villa can ill-afford another defensive injury but the Poland international appears to be coming off, with John McGinn entering the fray. That will need a bit of a tactical rearrange.
Luke Baker29 January 2025 20:30