Aston Villa vs Celtic prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-28 20:00.
[p]Opening 2025 with three successive wins, Aston Villa probably thought they’d turned a corner after struggling in the latter stages of 2024. But they’ve since crashed back down to earth with a three-match winless run (D2, L1), and with that sole defeat coming in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) last week away to Monaco (1-0), the Villans have now lost their grip on a top-eight spot.[/p]
[p]By no means are they out of the race for automatic last-16 qualification, but with Opta predicting they have a 53% chance of advancing in the top-eight, their fate is firmly up in the air. Villa know they have to beat Celtic handsomely to give themselves the best possible chance, and with English sides winning five of the last seven games they’ve hosted against Scottish opponents in the European Cup/UCL (D2), history suggests they look good value to hold up their end of the bargain. [/p]
[p]Celtic have had some extra rest and recuperation time for this clash after their weekend game against Dundee was postponed following storm damage to the club’s stadium. It’s Celtic themselves who’ve been doing most of the damage on the pitch of late, winning five of their last six games (D1), a run they’ll have to stretch to have a realistic chance of finishing as a seeded side for the knockout round play-offs. [/p]
[p]Their spot in the top-24 is assured already, but finishing in the 9th-16th range may be tricky given the Celts have drawn their last three games against English opposition. History indicates that a draw will be as good as it gets for Brendan Rodgers’ side here, who have only won one of their last 21 UCL main-draw away games (D5, L15), although of all English clubs he’s faced, Rodgers has only won more personal matches against Crystal Palace (10) than Villa (9). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Only Milan’s Theo Hernández (15) has attempted more shots without scoring in this season’s UCL than Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (14). Celtic’s Arne Engels has seen his last two club goals arrive away from home and from the penalty spot – six of his seven club goals this season have been penalties. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only Manchester City (59) have committed less fouls than Celtic (65) in the UCL league phase. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]