Aston Villa seal Champions League Last 16 Spot with Thrilling Win Over Celtic
Aston Villa secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic at Villa Park. Morgan Rogers was the hero for Villa, scoring a hat-trick to ensure a dramatic win and a top-eight finish in the group stage.
Villa got off to a dream start, with Rogers scoring twice in the opening five minutes to give them a commanding lead. However, Celtic fought back with two goals from Adam Idah just before half-time to level the score.
The second half saw Villa regain control, with Ollie Watkins scoring his first Champions League goal to restore their lead. Although Watkins missed a penalty that would have given Villa a two-goal cushion, Rogers completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal the victory.
Rogers’s hat-trick was a historic one, as he became the first player in Champions League history to score two goals in the opening five minutes of a match. His impressive performance was crucial in securing Villa’s place in the last 16.
This victory marks a successful return to the Champions League for Aston Villa, who are competing in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since the 1982-83 season. They finished eighth in the group stage, guaranteeing them a place in the last 16 and avoiding the play-off round.
Celtic, meanwhile, finished 21st and will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off round. They will be hoping to overcome the odds and secure a place in the last 16.
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