Celtic are in the Midlands to take on Aston Villa in an all-British showdown in the Champions League.
This will be the first meeting between Celtic and Villa, but it won’t be the first time Brendan Rodgers has faced Unai Emery.
From beating Villa’s Emery the last time he met him when Rodgers’ Leicester City side recorded a 4-2 win at Villa Park in 2023 to that infamous 7-1 defeat when PSG beat Celtic in 2017.
It’s time to write another chapter in the history books and Rodgers goes into this game in a far better place.
Celtic have secured a play-off spot, so in that sense, the pressure is off because the minimum target of securing knockout football has been met.
But that doesn’t mean the game will be any easier because Aston Villa are sitting one place outside of the top eight and are being pipped by Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference.
Added to that, Celtic are without the suspended Daizen Maeda, whilst Kyogo Furuhashi has joined Rennes and Cameron Carter-Vickers is also absent through injury.
So, Rodgers’ record against Villa will provide the Celtic faithful with a bit of a confidence boost.
Brendan Rodgers’ record against Aston Villa ahead of Champions League clash
This will be Rodgers’ 20th meeting against Villa. He has faced the 1982 European champions as a Swansea City manager, Liverpool, Leicester and now the mighty Celtic.
Over the course of that period, he has a pretty healthy record against them, so he will be hoping to continue that at Villa Park, including seven wins in the second city, as posted by Transfermarkt.
In total, he has won nine out of his 19 matches against Villa and it would probably be his best yet if he can get into double figures.
Rodgers’ record against Unai Emery
Villa have been outstanding under Emery, including being unbeaten at home in the Champions League where they are yet to concede a goal.
Rodgers has faced the Spanish coach five times in his career, from his first spell at Celtic to when he was in the Premier League with Leicester.
Once again, the Irishman has got the better of Emery and it would be something if it happens again.
| Record against | Matches | W | D | L | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodgers’ record v Unai Emery | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1.80 |
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