Aston Villa secured their place in the last 16 after a dramatic night at Villa Park, where Morgan Rogers stole the show with a stoppage-time hat-trick. As the final whistle approached, players anxiously gathered around a phone, awaiting confirmation that Atalanta had not snatched a late winner in Barcelona. When the news came through, the stadium erupted in celebration.
Villa’s achievement placed them among Europe’s elite, outlasting clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. The sporting director and general manager were visibly elated, while Celtic braced themselves for a challenging playoff against one of the tournament’s heavyweights.
Despite an early two-goal lead, Villa faced a strong Celtic comeback. Ollie Watkins restored their advantage before missing a penalty that could have put the match to bed. His goal celebration, however, suggested he was committed to the club despite transfer interest from Arsenal. Meanwhile, Jhon Durán, an unused substitute, appeared set for a high-profile move to the Saudi Pro League in an £80 million deal.
Villa’s fast start seemed to have decided the game within minutes. Rogers opened the scoring after a precise combination play down the left, finishing from close range after Jacob Ramsey’s assist. Moments later, Ezri Konsa intercepted a pass and set up an attack that ended with Rogers doubling the lead. His strike took a slight deflection but left the goalkeeper with no chance.
Celtic responded positively, with their captain urging his side forward. Nicolas Kühn went close, and Boubacar Kamara made crucial interventions as Villa’s makeshift defense held firm. Reo Hatate spurned a golden opportunity, while Ramsey hit the post and Watkins had a shot cleared off the line. The hosts could have been out of sight by the half-hour mark.
Instead, Celtic clawed their way back. Adam Idah capitalized on a defensive mishap to pull one back, then struck again from close range, leveling the score and silencing the home crowd. Brendan Rodgers punched the air in delight as his side defied expectations.
With an hour played, McGinn ignited Villa’s attack by shrugging off a challenge and setting Ramsey free. The midfielder selflessly squared for Watkins, who fired home. Minutes later, Watkins had the chance to restore a two-goal cushion but slipped while taking a penalty, sending his shot over the bar. The miss made for a tense conclusion, but Rogers completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal the victory.
Reflecting on the game, Rodgers expressed pride in his team’s resilience and competitive spirit despite financial disparities. While acknowledging the challenge ahead, he remained optimistic about their chances in the playoffs.
