Aston Villa's Diego Carlos
Aston Villa's Diego Carlos (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Aston Villa have placed themselves in a mightily strong position to progress into the latter stages of the Champions League after they secured a significant victory at RB Leipzig in Germany on Tuesday night.
Goals from John McGinn, Jhon Duran and, at the death, Ross Barkley, ensured Villa now have 13 points from their six group games so far, with a trip to Monaco and then the hosting of SPL champions Celtic to come before the league table phase concludes.
Villa are one of four teams sitting on 13 points, and that is all but mathematically enough to ensure that they'll end the group stage in the top 24 - all of those sides will have an opportunity to progress. The top eight, however, will skip the next knock-out stage and head straight into the last 16, something Villa are aiming to do.
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Points will be needed against Monaco and Celtic, games which take place after Christmas, as Villa - who sit in third - are actually only two points above ninth placed Atalanta. They'll head to Monaco in January, though, without Diego Carlos.
The Brazilian centre half, who has been competing for a place in Unai Emery's side this season along with Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, collected his third booking of the Champions League campaign on Tuesday and, as per the UEFA rules, a one-match suspension must be served after doing so. Carlos will be cleared to return to face Celtic in the first phase finale.
Where will Villa finish in the Champions League table? Tell us HERE