BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, Jan 28, (V7N)– Aston Villa have one last opportunity to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 when they face Celtic at Villa Park in a highly anticipated "Battle of Britain" clash on Wednesday.

Villa's Position: Sitting ninth in the league standings, Aston Villa must leapfrog eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen to avoid the play-off round. Victory over Celtic is essential, given their one-point deficit.

Celtic's Situation: While Celtic are guaranteed a playoff spot, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be pushing for a strong finish to secure a more favorable draw.

The top eight teams progress directly to the last 16, while clubs ranked 9th to 24th face a play-off round to determine the remaining spots.

Unai Emery’s Villa missed a golden chance to climb into the top eight after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Monaco last week. They followed it up with a 1-1 draw against West Ham on Sunday, a game marked by defender Tyrone Mings' first-half knee injury. His availability for the Celtic match remains doubtful.

Despite the setback, Mings struck a confident tone ahead of the clash:

 "It isn't pressure... we enjoy it. It's obviously a very big game next week, but they all are in their own way."

Celtic are coming into the fixture after a solid 1-0 win over Young Boys, which cemented their playoff position. However, their campaign has been overshadowed by a 7-1 thrashing at Borussia Dortmund, sparking questions about their resilience against top-tier opponents.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel acknowledged the learning curve but praised the squad’s recovery:

"Barring one game, we have been solid and very good. We stay humble and keep learning."

Celtic will miss key players Daizen Maeda (suspension) and Kyogo Furuhashi, who transferred to Rennes. While winger Jota has returned from Rennes, he is ineligible to feature on Wednesday.

The fixture has raised concerns about security following last week's violent clashes between Manchester United and Rangers fans during their Europa League tie. Authorities have pledged to maintain order during what could be a heated encounter at Villa Park.

Can Aston Villa bounce back from their Monaco disappointment and capitalize on their home advantage?

Will Celtic’s depleted squad hold firm against an Aston Villa side desperate for a win?

How will both sets of fans handle the passionate rivalry that comes with an Anglo-Scottish showdown?

With so much at stake, Wednesday's clash promises to be a dramatic and intense affair, with Villa Park set to host one of the most significant matches of the Champions League league phase.

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