The draw for the knockout phase play-offs will be held pretty swiftly after the group stage is completed, with teams learning their fate on 31 January. Then the first legs will be played on 11-12 February and the second on 18-19 February. That gives the top eight teams a useful spell without European football as the round of 16 begins on 4 March.

The latest Aston Villa news as Unai Emery's side will be looking to avoid the play-off stage in the final group game of the tournament on Wednesday night.

Aston Villa take on Celtic at Villa Park in the final round of fixtures in the Champions League ’s initial league phase, with an automatic qualification place potentially on the line. Unai Emery ’s side sit in ninth at the start of the day and ust one point behind Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy the final automatic qualification spot.