Moments of the league phase: Barkley's winner in Leipzig

Aston Villa will compete in the Champions League round of 16 in March, after an impressive league phase campaign saw them finish eighth in the table with a record of five victories, one draw and just two defeats. 

From Youri Tielemans' goal in Bern against Young Boys opening up the European campaign, to a historic night under the lights at Villa Park against Bayern Munich and Morgan Rogers' sensational hat-trick against Celtic, the league phase was filled with incredible memories for Villans both near and far, as a tally of 16 points meant Unai Emery's side would skip the round of 32 play-offs on their way straight to the second knockout stage. 

And, with a double-legged last 16 tie just around the corner next month, we are counting down the top five moments of the league phase - as voted for by you, the Aston Villa supporters - after we drew up an initial shortlist shortly after the conclusion of the league phase. 

In at number five is Ross Barkley's winning goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory in Germany over RB Leipzig in December...

The Villans travelled to Leipzig looking to return to winning ways in the Champions League, and get back on track. A lightning start to the campaign saw them sit top of the league phase table after three outings, with wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna. 

But defeat to Club Brugge at the beginning of November was followed up with a point against Juventus at Villa Park later that month, as Emery's men were held to a draw by their stubborn Turin visitors. 

Things started well at the Red Bull Arena, and it didn't take John McGinn long - just 154 seconds to be exact - to open the scoring after Ollie Watkins had smartly knocked down Matty Cash's cross. 

The hosts responded in a topsy-turvy affair, Loïs Openda stealing in to equalise just before the half-hour, but within seven minutes of the restart after half-time, Villa were back ahead, as substitute Jhon Durán fired an unstoppable effort home from the edge of the area. 

However, Die Roten Bullen were not done there. Christoph Baumgartner finished off a swift counter attack just minutes later to peg the visitors back again. The next 20 minutes were cagey and tight, with both sides looking to take all three points. 

Barkley stepped off the bench to replace Youri Tielemans seven minutes from time, and made an instant impact.

Just two minutes after his introduction, the Villans streamed forward. Emi Buendía and Durán combined, with the latter's pass cut out by Benjamin Henrichs. His clearance fell only as far as Barkley, who pulled the trigger 25 yards from goal. 

His effort took a wicked deflection off Lukas Klostermann to wrongfoot Péter Gulácsi between the Leipzig sticks and nestle into the back of the net. Over 2,000 travelling Villa supporters were sent into raptures, and the visitors successfully saw out the remaining five minutes plus stoppage time to seal another huge Champions League triumph overseas. 

For Barkley, it was a first Champions League goal on his 11th appearance in the competition, just two minutes after first setting foot on the field. 

The win ensured Villa climbed back up to third in the league phase standings after six outings, with an impressive record of 13 points from a possible 18.

Barkley's goal proved a hugely significant moment of the campaign, wrapping up a crucial win on our way to securing a top eight finish.