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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Aston Villa XI to play Celtic: Rookie centre-half drafted in, McGinn call made

Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa team to face Celtic in the Champions League this evening.

In the absence of central defensive duo Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, the Spanish manager has drafted in rookie central defender Lamare Bogarde.

The 21-year-old has only played for Villa nine times before this evening and spent the whole of 2024 on loan at English third-tier side Bristol Rovers.

He makes only the third Champions League appearance of his career tonight, having come off the bench in his team's 3-0 win over Young Boys and 1-0 defeat to Monaco earlier in the league phase campaign.


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Bogarde joins Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne at the back, with Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, and Tielemans lining up in midfield.

Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers play out wide, with Ollie Watkins through the middle.

Scotland international and self-confessed Celtic fan John McGinn is only fit enough to make the bench for this evening's match, which kicks off at 8pm UK time.

Aston Villa XI to face Celtic: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne, Tielemans, Kamara, Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.

Subs: Zych, Olsen, Maatsen, Nedeljkovic, Swinkels, Patterson, McGinn, Duran, Young.

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