Champions League
2026-08-25 - LASK vs Celtic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Play Off Round Second Leg
Tuesday 25th August 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
LASK
There is no doubt that LASK will have returned home after the First Leg of this Champions League Play Off Round tie and wonder how they lost the game, never mind how they lost 3-0! It leaves the Austrian Champions with a mountain to climb, but the only ambition for the Second Leg has to be scoring first and see how the visiting team respond if the gap can be closed.
Scoring first is one ambition, but the other will be scoring first early to try and rattle Celtic, although that will mean LASK showing a lot more composure in the final third than they did in Glasgow. Winning the Austrian title means LASK deserve a lot of respect for the quality they may be able to bring, but it also should be noted that the team have won 1 of the last 7 home European ties and failed to win any last year in the Conference League.
LASK have been aided by the Austrian Football Association by having the weekend away from competitive action, but they will have to bounce back from having a 7 game winning run ended in the First Leg of this tie. The side have won the last 4 at home in all competitions and LASK can take some encouragement from the fact they have scored at least three goals in 3 of those wins.
Celtic
Some of the Scottish Premiership rivals have struggled for positive results in the First Leg of their Play Off Round Qualifiers last week, but Celtic impressed more than all of the others and the 3-0 win over LASK puts them in a very strong position. Returning to the Champions League Group Stage after missing out last year is the sole ambition for the board and manager Martin O'Neill and Celtic will be confident that the First Leg has broken the back of this tie.
Where LASK lacked composure, Celtic were absolutely clinical in the final third as they blasted past the Austrian Champions in front of the home fans. Teams visiting Celtic Park have routinely found the atmosphere difficult to deal with, but this current Celtic squad should also be given plenty of credit for only being beaten in 1 of the last 7 away European ties played.
Celtic are well rested having had a Scottish Premiership game postponed this past weekend and they have opened the season with 4 straight wins in all competitions. The first game ended in a narrow win over Dundee at home, but Celtic have scored 12 goals in the last 3 victories. Celtic have won 5 away games in all competitions and scored at least twice in each of those.
Head to Head
Last week was the first competitive fixture between these clubs.
Prediction
A couple of offside decisions went in favour of Celtic and that helped them on their way to a magnificent First Leg win in this Champions League Play Off tie.
There was a lot to like about the way Celtic went about their business in the final third, but LASK will take some belief out of the way they created chances.
It was an approach fit for an away Leg as LASK sat back and countered, but the onus is on the Austrian Champions to take the positive approach as they try and get back into this tie. There will be a feeling that LASK can hurt Celtic with even a little bit more composure in the final third, but Martin O'Neill's team showed what they can achieve on the counter attack.
Goals look likely again, although you would have to be concerned about the LASK motivations if they were to fall behind in this one.
That does temper some enthusiasm for backing goals, but both teams showed enough going forward and vulnerabilities at the back that could be on display again in the Second Leg.
An early goal should open things up in theory and the attackers could have the better of the game again, although more clinical finishing will be needed from LASK in particular to help this game hit the number of goals we hope to see.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
LASK 2-1 Celtic
