Gary Lineker shares 'massive' Aston Villa v Celtic prediction

Gary Lineker has backed Aston Villa to beat Celtic to secure a top-eight spot in the Champions League.

The Hoops travel to Villa Park on Wednesday (29 January) with Unai Emery's side in desperate need of three points to avoid a playoff.

The Villans currently sit ninth in the league phase, level on points with Bayer Leverkusen in eighth but Lineker has backed Villa to sneak in and secure an automatic qualification spot.

Speaking on the Rest Is Football (24 January), he said: "I think Villa probably get top eight.

"They've got Celtic at home and Celtic are assured of being in that midtable stage so, Villa at home, it'll be rocking for a massive game to get top eight.

"Villa will be favourites to win, if they win that then they're assured, I would think, for top eight."

Gary Lineker backs Aston Villa win v Celtic

The clash against Brenden Rodgers' side will have a huge amount of importance piled on it which will only add to the atmosphere at Villa Park on the night.

The Scottish Premiership side secured a 1-0 win against Young Boys last time out, their second win of the Champions League so far.

With that being said, the Bhoys have fallen to defeat just once so won't be a pushover for the Villans, although their one defeat was a 7-1 battering at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.

Villa have to win to have any hope of securing a top-eight finish so form will go out of the window in the Midlands.

In other Aston Villa news, the Premier League have been brandished as "a disgrace" after Emi Martinez responded to the latest announcement.

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