ASTON VILLA stars faced an anxious wait following their dramatic win over Celtic on Wednesday night. Players crowded around a coach's phone to watch results come in from the evening's other Champions League matches. 4 Aston Villa's players nervously checked results from elsewhere on Wednesday night Credit: Getty 4 The Premier League side qualified for the last-16 in the final spot Credit: Getty 4 Morgan Rogers netted a brilliant hat-trick as Unai Emery's men beat Celtic Credit: Getty 4 The campaign is Villa's first in the competition since 1982 Credit: Getty Villa began the night in the qualification spots for the last-16 of the competition.
The top 8 sides in the revamped Champions League table head straight into the knockouts without the need for a playoff. A brilliant hat-trick from Morgan Rogers helped Villa to all three points. But they were forced into an agonising wait to see if Atalanta could steal a winner against Barcelona.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL EUR-EKA Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Aston Villa learn Champions League opponents A goal for the Serie A side would have seen them leapfrog Villa into the top 8, relegating Unai Emery 's side into the playoff on goal difference. Barcelona held on, resulting in jubilant scenes both on the field and terraces at Villa Park. They will now face either Atalanta , Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the last-16.
One fan wrote on X: "The Villa and Brugge players crowding round their phones waiting for the result.
