Ray Parlour tells Celtic what they must do vs Aston Villa after watching Manchester United beat Rangers

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Celtic have already progressed in the Champions League ahead of their Aston Villa fixture.

Celtic beat Young Boys to book their place in playoffs as Brendan Rodgers looks forward to another fixture amongst Europe’s elite.

However, it wasn’t just Celtic who were on European duty this week as Rangers had the task of taking on Manchester United in the Europa League as the Hoops’ rivals looked to book their place in the playoffs of UEFA’s second-tier competition.

After watching Rangers lose to the English giants, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has told the Celtic Park club what they must do when they visit Aston Villa next week.

• READ MORE: Celtic deliver update on Dundee game after Storm Eowyn damage to Parkhead, fixture reschedule date

Ray Parlour issues a challenge to Celtic ahead of Aston Villa Champions League tie

Parlour was mulling over the Rangers result with Celtic supporting co-host, Alan Brazil, when he said that Brendan Rodgers’ team must go to Villa Park and show the Premier League club ‘how good’ they are.

Brazil told talkSPORT, “I thought Rangers were good. I knew they would [compete] and I’d be surprised if Celtic don’t do it on Wednesday as well and have a real go.

Parlour: “Absolutely, that’s what you expect. People will lift their game and every Rangers and Celtic player will enjoy playing against Aston Villa because everybody watches the Premier League.

“I’m sure every single player in the Scottish Premiership watches the Premier League and watch the teams and how they play and say, ‘Whoa, look at that. We would like to compete against those other sides’.

“Now they’ve got their opportunity so let’s see how good they are and see they can get a result.”

What fans might not know about Aston Villa and Celtic in the Champions League

Celtic have never played Aston Villa in any European competition and both clubs will now face each other for the first time in their history.

Celtic fans know the club’s history in the Champions League after the Lisbon Lions won the competition, then known as the European Cup, in 1967.

What the Hoops support might not know is that Aston Villa have also won the big cup after they beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final in 1982 in Rotterdam.

No doubt the occasion will be superb at Villa Park and the Celtic fans will be hoping for a win to increase their very slim chances of nabbing a last-gasp top-eight place in the final round of fixtures.