Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham in Premier League action on Sunday as they prepared for their Champions League tie against Celtic. Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring for Villa in the 7th minute, but Emerson levelled for the visitors in the 70th to ensure both sides left Villa Park with a point.
Unai Emery’s side will now turn their focus to Europe, where they face the Bhoys in green on Wednesday night in the final game of the Champions League league phase. Villa have performed strongly in the competition’s new format, sitting ninth in the standings after seven matches. A win over Celtic could see them break into the top eight, which would allow them to bypass the first knockout round and head straight to the last 16.
Celtic, currently 18th in the table, are also through to the knockout stage but are unlikely to climb into the top eight, even with a win. That said, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be determined to secure a strong result, especially after their disappointing league form earlier in the season.
Villa will feel confident heading into the clash, bolstered by their strong Champions League campaign so far. Celtic, however, will face a challenge without their star striker, who was surprisingly sold to Rennes just days before this crucial fixture. Many fans have been left baffled by the timing of the transfer, which could leave the Hoops short in attack.
The match kicks off at 8 pm on Wednesday night, with plenty at stake for both sides.
