O'Neill would have faced Celtic for the first time since leaving in May 2005

Aston Villa will face Mexican side Atlante in the group stages of the Peace Cup in Spain after Scottish giants Celtic were forced to withdraw.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was set to face his former club for the first time but the Hoops must now play in the Champions League qualifying stages.

Atlante are the Concacaf Champions League holders, meaning they have qualified for the Fifa Club World Cup.

The other team drawn in Group C are Spanish side Malaga.

Villa's involvement in the competition will begin against the La Liga side on Saturday, 25 July before taking on the Central American club champions four days later.

If O'Neill's side win their group they will go through to the semi-finals of the tournament, which includes Real Madrid, FC Porto, Juventus and Lyon.

The winners of the Peace Cup will receive more than £1.5m in prize money.

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