Aston Villa stars anxiously huddle round phone to check Champions League scores before celebrating
Aston Villa stars anxiously huddle round phone to check Champions League scores before celebrating
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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. Villa began the night in the qualification spots for the last-16 of the competition.
![[Aston Villa players checking scores on phones after a match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aston-villa-players-check-scores-967672410.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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.
![[Aston Villa players celebrating a victory with the match ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/morgan-rogers-aston-villa-celebrates-967672840.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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.
![[Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa celebrates a hat trick, holding the match ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/morgan-rogers-aston-villa-celebrates-967672981.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
One fan wrote on X: "The Villa and Brugge players crowding round their phones waiting for the results like they've found out they've survived relegation from League One has made me indescribably happy.". FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS. Another said: "Aston Villa players gathered around iPad checking Atalanta score was fantastic.".
![[Aston Villa fans celebrating a goal at Villa Park.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/morgan-rogers-aston-villa-celebrates-967673899.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
While a third added: "That reaction to Villa finding out they are through to the round of 16 is class. Full stadium and players going mental in unison quality stuff.". Villa were rocked earlier in the day after Arsenal tabled a £60million bid for talisman Ollie Watkins.
![[UEFA Champions League phase table.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tp-graphic-UEFA-champions-league-table-2901.jpg?strip=all&w=352)
