Celtic Faces LASK in Crucial Champions League Clash
Celtic head to Austria with the job half-done and a warning ringing in their ears.
A 3-0 first-leg win at Parkhead has them within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League league phase, yet Tuesday night in Linz is no victory lap. LASK have turned their home ground into a fortress and arrive as freshly crowned Austrian Bundesliga champions, ending a 61-year wait for the title. This is not the stage for Celtic to drift into cruise control.
Martin O’Neill’s side, though, look better equipped than the version that stumbled in Europe last season. The club have tightened their recruitment, prioritising genuine upgrades over squad fillers, and that sharper edge has already shown across competitions. If they finish the job here, more investment is expected to follow. For now, all eyes are on a tie they are heavily favoured to see out against Die Laskler – even with the second leg on foreign soil.
Sinisalo’s stage
Between the posts, Viljami Sinisalo has quietly turned opportunity into authority. Promoted to first choice after Kasper Schmeichel’s injury earlier this year, the Finnish goalkeeper has impressed with a calm presence and sharp handling. In Austria, he faces a different test: managing a hostile atmosphere and a LASK side that must attack from the first whistle. Celtic need him resolute again.
Ahead of him, the back four looks settled. With Alistair Johnston sidelined until October, Colby Donovan is set to continue on the right. The American has grown into the role, and his duel with LASK’s wide players could shape the rhythm of the night.
At centre-back, the USMNT pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty has given Celtic a rugged spine. They were dominant in the first leg and will be asked to withstand a far more aggressive LASK approach this time. On the left, Kieran Tierney remains untouchable. His blend of defensive bite and attacking thrust makes him a constant outlet, especially when Celtic look to break LASK’s press.
Liam Scales waits in reserve, the dependable option who can cover both centre-half and left-back. His versatility keeps him close to the action, even if he starts on the bench.
A new pivot, familiar heartbeat
In midfield, Celtic’s refresh is already visible. Mika Baur has been brought in as the successor to Arne Engels and is expected to anchor the game from deep. The German playmaker should line up in a double pivot with captain Callum McGregor, a partnership designed to control tempo and resist the inevitable early surge from the home side.
McGregor remains the heartbeat, dictating the flow, while Baur offers fresh legs and passing angles. If Celtic manage the first hour, the bench gives O’Neill options to tilt the game again. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate are all poised to come on and add energy, craft or control as required.
Higher up, Benjamin Nygren is the man in form. He both scored and assisted in the first leg against LASK and continues to look like a player riding a wave of confidence. His intelligence between the lines will be crucial if Celtic are forced to play on the counter.
Duran’s sacrifice, wide battles, and the No. 9
Up front, Camilo Duran has accepted a different brief. Naturally a No. 9, he has shifted to accommodate Kasper Høgh through the middle, and the adjustment has not dulled his threat. Duran struck twice in the 3-0 win at Celtic Park, punishing LASK with sharp movement and clinical finishing from wider and deeper areas. His willingness to adapt gives O’Neill tactical flexibility without losing firepower.
On the flanks, Yang Hyun-jun looks set to get the nod again. His finishing and final ball still need refinement, but his relentless pressing, work rate and willingness to harry defenders make him invaluable in a tie where Celtic cannot afford to sit off. That intensity might be the difference in disrupting LASK’s build-up and turning the game into a more chaotic, Celtic-friendly contest.
Sebastian Tounekti will likely start among the substitutes, joined by veteran James Forrest and big-money signing Haissem Hassan. Between them, O’Neill has a range of profiles to change the tone of the game out wide – experience, direct running, and fresh flair ready to be unleashed if the contest tightens.
Kasper Høgh remains the focal point up top. With Duran working around him and Nygren supplying from behind, the Dane’s hold-up play and penalty-box instincts give Celtic a clear route to the away goal that would all but kill the tie.
Celtic travel with a commanding lead, a sharper squad, and a clear plan. LASK bring a fearsome home record and the swagger of new champions. One side is trying to complete a return to the Champions League stage; the other is desperate to prove its title was no one-season wonder.
Which story will carry the night in Linz?
