Daniel Cummings, Arne Engels and Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, applauds the fans after the team’s defeat during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It was a nightmare start for the Scottish Premiership champions as Brendan Rodgers watched his side crumble in the Villa Park cauldron. Morgan Rogers netted a quick-fire double inside five minutes to leave Celtic with an uphill battle against the Premier League side.

Celtic travel to Villa Park safe in the knowledge of progression to the knock-out round after beating Young Boys in their penultimate league phase game.

CELTIC fans didn’t leave Villa Park wondering what might have been. They were dreaming of what’s to come. Brendan Rodgers’ side played their part in a thrilling, end-to-end Champions League clash

Listen to Sportsound and follow live text updates of Celtic's final league phase fixture in the Champions League against Aston Villa.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers brings a history of success against the Birmingham-based side that could inspire confidence among the

Brendan Rodgers said was proud of Celtic's performance at Villa Park even though a 4-2 defeat condemned them to a play-off tie against one of the giants of European football.

Both Celtic and Villa can still still secure an automatic qualification spot, but results would have to fall favourably elsewhere for either to progress should they win.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoke of his pride at "playing our part in a really good game". "It was a brilliant game to be involved in. The word that strikes me at the moment is pride.

Instead, although not explicitly stated, it was directed at Brendan Rodgers, who had a couple of nights earlier performed a midnight flit to Leicester City. You’ll remember the message because it was a classic of the genre and still holds it charge today. “You traded immortality for mediocrity,” Rodgers was told. “Never a Celt, always a fraud.”

On losing the "iconic" Kyogo from his squad and [Daizen] Maeda being suspended, Rodgers concedes both have been key players, especially in Europe, but he believes he has the squad to cope without them, giving others a chance to step in.