AFTER a 1-0 loss in Monaco last week, Aston Villa’s game against Celtic on Wednesday is all the more important in their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League.
Anything but a loss against the Ligue 1 team would’ve put automatic round of 16 qualification in their own hands ahead of league phase games.
But it is now not so simple for the Villans, where a win vs The Hoops could still see them end up in the playoff positions.
Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta and Leverkusen are within reaching distance of Unai Emery’s men.
If just one of them drop points, a win for the English club should be enough to qualify, unless Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille or Brest also win and catch up to Villa’s goal difference.
It is important that Villa avoid having to play two extra playoff games, with the busy winter schedule already having an impact.
Left-back Lucas Digne played most of the recent Premier League game at centre-back, a first for him in claret and blue in over 100 matches for the club, after Tyrone Mings’ injury left the team with just one senior centre-back available.
The lack of fit defenders in the squad is a huge concern for Emery, with his team conceding 35 goals in the Premier League – the most of any top half team.
Ezri Konsa will likely be the only available central-defender on Wednesday.
The unavailable men include Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings who are both injured.
An out of position Lucas Digne or academy graduate Lamare Bogarde are the two most likely to fill in tomorrow.
If they get top 8, would be the first time they qualify for the round of 16 in top-level European football since 1983.
