Something ‘very unusual’ Peter Grant saw in Aston Villa & Club Brugge that could aid Celtic in Champions League

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The international break is upon us but the Champions League will absolutely be on the Celtic fan’s mind for the next two weeks.

Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig has given the supporters real belief that this could be the year that the club get out of the Champions League group phase.

With seven points on the board, Celtic sit in 15th place in UEFA’s Champions League with the Bhoys’ remaining fixtures against Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys and Aston Villa still to come.

And after watching both teams, Peter Grant shares what he noticed about Brugge and Villa and it could play into Celtic’s hands.

Aston Villa and Club Brugge leave ‘a lot of space’ Celtic could punish

Grant told The Go Radio Football Show, “Both teams have a lot of space in there [midfield], but they’re defending it sometimes with six players behind the ball, Brugges.

“It’s quite interesting watching it. They all drop right off, and as I said, they’ve got a back line of six, which leaves them in the middle of the pitch empty. And for a home game, that’s very unusual.

“Usually, we’re talking about teams having a go now, and Villa are probably playing with the two central midfield players, but they’re playing with two wide players, narrow, and they’re splitting two strikers.

“So it’s quite interesting watching how both teams play, and I’m sure Brendan Rodgers would be sitting watching this game because they’re up against these guys.”

The space being left by both teams could be exploited by the passing ability of Celtic trio Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate.

And if their wide players play narrow, Celtic’s fullbacks could easily push forward and take advantage of the extra space left on the wings.

If both Villa and Brugge play like that against Celtic then the chances of the Parkhead club picking up more vital Champions League points increase greatly.

Club Brugge and Aston Villa’s form this season ahead of Celtic Park Champions League clash

Whilst Celtic are unrelenting and still enjoy an ubeaten start to their domestic season, how do Villa and Brugge fare ahead of their Champions League clash against the Parkhead club?

Here, 67 Hail Hail takes a look at all the info on both teams Celtic fans need to know about the EPL club and Belgian’s reigning champions.

Brugge’s biggest win of the season was 6-1 victory over lower league side, Belisia Bilzen in the Croky Cup. Their biggest defeat was against KAA Gent in the league after being beated 4-2 at home.

As for Villa, their best win of the season was the 3-0 away win to Young Boys. Their heaviest defeat came at the hands of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur who spanked them 4-1 in London.

Both games are winable for Celtic as long as they produce the performances the fans loved against Atalanta and Leipzig.