Champions League
2026-08-19 - Celtic vs LASK
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Play Off Round First Leg
Wednesday 19th August 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
Celtic
It took until the final ten minutes of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season before Celtic moved past Hearts in the standings and a late goal sealed the deal as yet another title headed to the green half of Glasgow. Martin O'Neill has remained in charge and Celtic have made a decent start to the new season, although the fans will be keen for the club to find a way into the Champions League Group Stage.
Twelve months ago, Celtic were embarrassed when they failed to progress past Kairat Almaty in the Play Off Round as they were downed on Penalties, but they were eventually eliminated from all European Football in the Europa League Knock Out Rounds. That defeat to Kairat Almaty means Celtic have won 1 of the last 5 Champions League Qualifying ties played and that brings about pressure on the current squad and management.
Celtic have won all 3 games played in all competitions this season and they have now won 9 in a row in normal time going back to the Scottish Cup Semi Final, which was won in Extra Time. The Bhoys have won 6 in a row at Celtic Park in all competitions, but just 2 of the last 7 here under the UEFA banner.
LASK
Last season will be a memorable one for all associated with LASK who won the Austrian title for just the second time and the first time in sixty-one years. As they did in 1965, LASK backed up the title by completing the domestic double with a success in the Austrian Cup and they will be taking part in the European Cup/Champions League for just the third time.
The last of those appearances came in the 2019/20 season after LASK had finished 2nd in the Austrian Bundesliga, but the club had missed out on all European competition last season. In recent years, the Europa League and Conference League have been where you have tended to find LASK and two years ago they finished 35/36 in the Conference League Group standings.
LASK have opened the domestic campaign in fine form in the 2026/27 season and they have won all 4 matches played, while scoring 16 goals across those victories. The side have won 5 of the last 6 away games played in all competitions, including the last 3 in succession without conceding a goal. However, LASK have lost 7 straight away games played in UEFA settings.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between the clubs.
Prediction
For all of the domestic successes managers have had in recent years at Celtic Football Club, the fans will always judge those in charge by how competitive the team are in European Football.
Losing to Kairat Almaty last year put Brendan Rodgers under immense pressure, despite months earlier guiding Celtic into the Knock Out Rounds in the Champions League. The manager was still given enough respect with the main focus being on the board, but Martin O'Neill is well aware of the expectation level within the fanbase and Celtic have to try and ride that, rather than it affecting them negatively.
When you consider the opponents Celtic could have faced, LASK does look a difficult test on paper.
They may not have an extensive European experience in recent years and LASK have really struggled on their travels at this level, but they are the Austrian Champions and that has to be respected.
Celtic and LASK have both been putting up some impressive performances domestically and so this has the makings of a very competitive tie that is likely going to be decided in the Second Leg.
However, the home crowd could be key in pushing Celtic forward to have a narrow lead to take into that Second Leg and they have shown enough in the final third to do that.
Defensively there could be holes for LASK to exploit, but Celtic can still edge to the lead in what should be a raucous atmosphere.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Celtic 2-1 LASK
