Celtic beat LASK 3-0 in Champions League playoff first leg

Celtic secured a commanding 3-0 victory over LASK in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026, putting the Scottish champions on the brink of a return to Europe's elite competition. Goals from Camilo Duran and Benjamin Nygren delivered a dominant performance in Glasgow, with the decisive return leg scheduled for August 25 in Linz.

Manager Martin O'Neill made three changes to the starting lineup that defeated Dundee United 4-0 in the League Cup just days earlier, introducing new signings Mika Baur, Kasper Hojh, and Duran. The Colombian forward Duran proved the star of the evening, scoring twice with a strike either side of halftime. His first goal was preceded by a spectacular long-range effort from Nygren, which set the tone for a comprehensive display. Despite a spirited effort from the Austrian Bundesliga champions, Celtic's defense, marshalled by Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty, limited LASK's lively attack of Moses Usor and Samuel Adeniran to few clear opportunities.

The result places Celtic in an excellent position to advance to the 36-team league phase of the Champions League, having missed out the previous season...