Aston Villa vs Celtic Predictions

• Villa need to win and improve their goal difference as they chase a top eight finish
• Celtic have had a kind fixture list, claiming 11 of their 12 points against sides ranked 35th, 30th, 20th, 26th and 36th
• The Bhoys were beaten 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund in October
• Villa have seen over 2.5 goals scored in four of their previous five home victories

Villa aim for eighth

Aston Villa have already exceeded expectations in the Champions League this season, but they’re at risk of letting a top-eight finish slip through their fingers.

Unai Emery’s side are ninth in the standings following last week’s 1-0 loss in Monaco. That result left the Villains with one win in four Champions League matches after winning their opening three.

Defeats in Monaco and Brugge leave Emery’s side facing a must-win final game against Celtic on Wednesday. Even then, they need results elsewhere to go in their favour.

Bhoys have done enough

Celtic have made the most of a kinder fixture list than the old format allowed. Last season’s group stage saw them earn just four points after being drawn with Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio. This time around home clashes with Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys have helped them get points on the board.

The Bhoys have 12 points from seven matches, putting them 18th and securing their spot in the knockouts. While they’re within reach of the top eight, it’s hard to see things breaking their way on the final day.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have done well to fight back after a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. However, it’s worth noting that outside of clashes with Dortmund and Atalanta, the sides they’ve met head into the final round placed 35th, 30th, 20th, 26th and 36th. A visit to Villa Park is a much tougher challenge, especially following the relief and euphoria we saw at Celtic Park a week ago.

Goal difference could be key for Villa

Villa are one of six sides on 13 points, leaving them behind eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference. Even if one of the seven sides above them drop points, the fight for the last couple of automatic berths in the last 16 will likely come down to goal difference.

That means Villa can’t afford to grind out wins to nil, as they’ve done in victories over Bayern Munich and Bologna. They need to increase their +5 goal difference, which suggests this will be a high-scoring clash.

Villa have scored twice in four of their last five at home, while Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham was their fifth successive home game without a clean sheet. If that record continues, Villa will need to score at least twice just to win, while we’ve already seen the Bhoys capitulate in their 7-1 mauling in Germany. Take Villa to win in a high-scoring game.