Line-ups confirmed as hosts suffer massive injury blow

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Aston Villa go into tonight’s game against Celtic knowing they need a win to stand any realistic chance of securing an automatic place in the Champions League round of 16.

Having started their European campaign with wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna, their form has dipped with last week’s 1-0 reverse in Monaco seeing them slip outside the top eight in the league phase.

Fans will have one eye on events at Villa Park and another on matters elsewhere in Europe, particularly the game between Barcelona and Atalanta.

A win for Hansi Flick’s side in Catalonia, coupled with a win for Villa, would see them through.

Celtic have little to play for, although a win could see them climb into the top 16 and earn them a seeded place in the playoff draw.

Aston Villa Team News

Villa suffered a major blow with the news Tyrone Mings misses out due to the knee injury he sustained against West Ham on Sunday.

Lamare Bogarde, primarily a midfielder, is likely to drop into the centre of the defence alongside Ezri Konsa.

That’s the only change to the side that drew with the Hammers with Unai Emery resisting the temptation to restore John McGinn to the starting line-up.

Ollie Watkins, the subject of a reported bid from Arsenal today, starts in attack with Jhon Duran on the bench.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Bogarde, Konsa, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins

Celtic Team News

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers makes three changes to the side that beat Young Boys 1-0 last week – their last game following the weekend postponement against Dundee.

Cameron Carter-Vickers misses out through injury with Liam Scales deputising at the heart of the Hoops’ defence.

Kyōgo Furuhashi has departed for Rennes while Daizen Maeda is suspended following his red card against the Swiss.

Yang Hyun-jun and Adam Idah come in.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Scales, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kuhn, Idah, Yang




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