- Aston Villa are ninth in Champions League table
- Celtic are in 18th place
- Recommended bet: Jhon Duran to score at any time

Aston Villa go in search of a home victory over Celtic on Wednesday that they hope will be enough to land them a place in the top eight in the Champions League.

Villa are just outside the automatic qualification spots for the last 16 as Unai Emery's men sit ninth with one game to go in the League Phase.

Celtic have already guaranteed themselves a top-24 finish and with it a place in the play-offs but Brendan Rodgers' side could still sneak into the top eight with a famous win at Villa Park while hoping other results go their way in midweek.

Team news

Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings was forced off against West Ham on Sunday with a knee injury which is set to rule him out of the big clash with the Hoops.

With Pau Torres also still out, Lucas Digne may have to shift to a central defensive role for the hosts.

Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley remain on the sidelines but John McGinn has recovered from injury and could feature after coming off the bench against the Hammers.

Celtic's Japan international Daizen Maeda is suspended after his sending off in last week's win over Young Boys.

Kyogo Furuhashi has sealed a move to French outfit Rennes so Adam Idah should start. James Forrest is a major doubt, while Odin Thiago Holm is absent for the Hoops.

The stats

Villa are unbeaten in their three home games in the competition so far, beating Bayern Munich and Bologna and drawing with Juventus. The Villans did not concede a goal in any of those home games.

Emery's side have lost just one of their last seven games in all competitions — the 1-0 defeat on Matchday Seven at Monaco.

Celtic have failed to win away in the Champions League this season, drawing 0-0 with both Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb after suffering a 7-1 hammering at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.

The Hoops are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, winning five.

Prediction

Villa looked to be heading for a comfortable passage to the last 16 after winning their first three games in the Champions League over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna.

However, a defeat at Club Brugge checked their progress on Matchday Four and subsequent results — a draw with Juventus, a win over RB Leipzig and a defeat at Monaco last time out — means they still have work to do to secure a top-eight place in the congested upper section of the table.

A win does not guarantee them an automatic last-16 spot as there are just three points separating Atletico Madrid in fifth with Celtic in 18th but the Premier League side will hope it is enough on the night.

The Hoops are likely going to need to rely on winning a play-off tie to make the knockout rounds but a win at Villa Park would give them a chance of finishing in the top eight, albeit they would need several other results to go their way too.

Brendan Rodgers' side have acquitted themselves well in Europe this season, responding well to the 7-1 humbling at Dortmund to beat RB Leipzig and Young Boys, while drawing with Atalanta, Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb.

They are expected to provide Villa with a stiff test but the hosts should edge it when striker Jhon Duran can again star.

The Colombia international was the goal-hero when Villa memorably beat German giants Bayern Munich 1-0 earlier in the League Phase and he has also scored against Bologna and Leipzig in the competition.

Back Jhon Duran to score at any time at 6/5 with LiveScore Bet

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