Aston Villa have one last chance to seal automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League last 16 when they face Celtic in a crucial “Battle of Britain” clash today.
Heading into the final round of league phase, Unai Emery’s side sit ninth in the standings, with the top eight guaranteed to advance directly to the last 16.
Teams who finish ninth to 24th face a nerve-wracking playoff round that determines the other eight clubs to progress.
Photo: Reuters
Villa, who are one point behind eighth-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen, would almost certainly have to beat Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic at Villa Park to avoid the playoffs.
They could have almost wrapped up a last-16 berth by beating AS Monaco last week, but instead slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat against the Ligue 1 side.
Villa defender Tyrone Mings is confident his side can cope with the strain of such a critical match.
“It isn’t pressure, it’s something we deal with every time we step out on to the football pitch, that’s no different. We enjoy it,” Mings said. “It’s obviously a very big game next week, but they all are in their own way.”
Mings left the pitch in tears after suffering a first-half knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham United, sparking fears the influential centerback would miss the Celtic match.
Celtic are sure to finish in a playoff spot after beating BSC Young Boys 1-0 in Glasgow last week, but Brendan Rodgers’ 18th-placed side are unlikely to take it easy against Villa as they look to finish as high as possible in the table and potentially secure less formidable playoff opponents.
Celtic also have a point to prove after being thrashed 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund in the most daunting of their league-phase matches.
A positive result against Villa would quiet those who suggested their progress to the playoffs was due in part to a favorable fixture list.
“I think we learned our lesson in Dortmund and bounced back really well. Sometimes you learn when you have a tough time,” Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said. “Barring one game, we have been solid, we have been very good. We have had some very mature performances. That’s the mark of the squad, we never get carried away, we stay humble and keep learning.”
Celtic, unbeaten in five European matches, are to travel south well rested after Saturday’s game against Dundee was postponed due to damage at the club’s stadium caused by Storm Eowyn, but Rodgers’ men are depleted by the absence of Japan internationals Daizen Maeda, who is suspended, and Kyogo Furuhashi, who completed a move to Stade Rennais on Monday.
Kyogo’s departure was softened by Portuguese winger Jota returning from Stade Rennais, but he is not eligible to play today.
Meanwhile, West Midlands Police hope to keep a lid on potential crowd trouble in the latest volatile clash between English and Scottish clubs.
The fixture at Villa Park comes six days after Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Rangers in the UEFA Europa League was marred by violent scenes.
There were 39 arrests as Rangers fans infiltrated sections of the stadium reserved for United supporters, with disorder also reported in the city center.
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