Positivity for Celtic as Aston Villa and Club Brugge suffer mixed fortunes in Champions League

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As Celtic await Atalanta in the Champions League, two future opponents suffered mixed fortunes in their fixtures last night.

Aston Villa and Club Brugges were in Champions League action last night as both looked to get a positive result but for very different reasons.

Villa are flying in the competition. Before last night’s game against Bologna, Unai Emery’s side had already secured two wins and were looking good for automatic qualification.

Club Brugges however, are looking to get their campaign back after their defeat to Borussia Dortmund was followed up by a win against Sturm Graz earlier this month.

With both clubs in action last night, the Celtic support would have been keeping a close eye on their results with Brendan Rodgers facing them in the latter fixtures of the league phase.

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Aston Villa’s Champions League win over Bologna could benefit Celtic

The Premier League club is making big waves in the Champions League with a 100% win record and no goals conceded.

Beating Bologna 2-0 at Villa Park last night, Emery’s team are now top of the league on nine points just a hair’s breadth away from automatic qualification.

Villa’s last fixture in the Champions League is against Celtic and by that time they should be safely into the next round meaning by the time the Hoops visit the Premier League club they could field a weakened team giving Rodgers a better chance of securing a positive result in England.

Club Brugge suffer another Champions League defeat before November Celtic visit

The Belgians suffered a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan on matchday three last night meaning that Brugge is now in the bottom third of the table with just three points from nine.

With Aston Villa up next, if Brugge suffers another defeat then their chances of qualification will look slim and that’s before we even speak about their damaged confidence.

Celtic face Brugge at home at the end of November at Celtic Park and if Rodgers can mastermind a win, then that would almost certainly end the Pro League club’s hopes of qualification from the league phase.

If Celtic can pick up a positive result against Atalanta then that would strengthen their chance to effectively end Brugge’s Champions League hopes if the Scottish champions beat them at Celtic Park next month.