LASK and Celtic FC decide who joins Europe's elite
LASK and Celtic FC meet in Linz in the second leg of the Champions League play-off, and once the tie is over it will be known who has secured a place in the league phase of the competition. The first match is played six days earlier at Celtic Park, so the exact scenario for the match in Linz will depend on the result from Glasgow. What is already clear is that this is a match that could define the entire season for both clubs.
LASK enter the tie as Austrian champions. The club from Linz finished last season by winning only the second national championship title in its history, while also lifting the cup. Celtic FC arrive in Austria as Scottish champions after a season in which they also won the domestic double. This therefore is not a meeting between teams trying to rescue a disappointing domestic season through European qualifying - both enter the tie as the reigning champions of their countries.
The winner of the tie advances to the league phase of the Champions League. LASK have an opportunity to achieve one of the greatest European results of the club's modern era, while Celtic FC are trying to avoid another qualifying disappointment and return among Europe's best teams.
Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters, especially because the decision will be made in Linz.
LASK opened the season without dropping a point
Dietmar Kühbauer's team enter the European tie with very convincing domestic results. LASK recorded three victories in their first three league rounds with a goal difference of 9:1.
- LASK - GAK 3:0
- Austria Wien - LASK 0:2
- LASK - SV Ried 4:1
The response in the match against SV Ried was particularly impressive. LASK conceded as early as the 8th minute, but Samuel Adeniran equalised only two minutes later. Moses Usor then scored to complete the turnaround, Adeniran increased the lead with his second goal, and Christoph Lang made it 4:1 in the second half.
Adeniran has been LASK's most effective attacker at the start of the league season. He scored twice against GAK and another two times against Ried, meaning that after his first three league appearances he was already on four goals. His physical strength and presence in the penalty area will be particularly important against Celtic's defence, but LASK do not depend solely on their central striker.
Christoph Lang scored against GAK and Ried, while Moses Usor found the net against Austria Wien and Ried. It is precisely the combination of Usor's pace, Adeniran's finishing and Lang's movement that gives Kühbauer several ways to attack the space behind the opposition defence.
Captain Sascha Horvath remains an important figure in midfield. His role is not limited to the final pass. LASK try to use him to connect defence and attack, calm possession when the match becomes chaotic and quickly switch the ball towards the flanks.
Recognisable structure with three centre-backs
In all three opening league rounds, LASK began their matches with three players in the last line. Andres Andrade, Joao Viktor Tornich and Xavier Mbuyamba formed the defensive trio, while George Bello and Kasper Poul Mølgaard Jørgensen operated in wide roles on the flanks.
This shape allows LASK to push their wide players high when in possession and create a numerical advantage in midfield. At the same time, it carries a risk against Celtic, who have enough pace to attack the space behind them as soon as they win the ball.
The match against Ried provided a good example of what LASK want to do. After an error and an early goal conceded, they did not panic and start sending long balls forward. The team continued to attack in an organised manner, and the equaliser came after winning the ball in midfield. For the second goal, Usor attacked the space behind the defence at exactly the right moment, while the fourth came after a quick counter-attack.
Against Celtic, that space may not be as readily available. That is why the ability of Horvath, Melayro Bogarde, Robert Ljubičić and the other midfielders to play through the first wave of pressure and immediately find one of the attackers will be particularly important.
Celtic arrive in Linz with an attack that quickly found its rhythm
Celtic FC have also made a very strong start to the season. Martin O'Neill's team first defeated Dundee 1:0 in the league and then beat Kilmarnock 5:1. After that, they won 4:0 away to Dundee United in the cup.
Kasper Høgh has stood out in particular. The Danish striker scored a first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock. He scored his first goal after a cross from Arne Engels, the second after a combination involving Camilo Durán and Benjamin Nygren, while Durán crossed from the right for his third.
Benjamin Nygren has also started the season very effectively. His goal secured victory against Dundee, he scored again against Kilmarnock and also found the net against Dundee United. Auston Trusty, Camilo Durán and Sebastian Tounekti also scored in that cup match.
- Kasper Høgh - central attacking threat and hat-trick against Kilmarnock
- Benjamin Nygren - scorer in all three of the competitive matches mentioned
- Camilo Durán - can play wide, but can also move closer to the central striker
- Callum McGregor - captain and the main figure in organising the midfield
- Kieran Tierney - important for width, ball progression and crosses from the left
O'Neill has already stressed that he does not want to restrict his team to only one formation. Durán can start out wide and then move inside and play alongside Høgh. That is particularly interesting for LASK because their three centre-backs will not be able to focus only on one traditional centre-forward. They will also have to react to runs from Nygren, Tounekti or Durán arriving from deeper positions.
Celtic also demonstrated their set-piece threat against Dundee United. Trusty opened the scoring from Nygren's corner. LASK therefore cannot afford to concede a large number of unnecessary set pieces around their own penalty area.
At the same time, the 4:0 scoreline does not tell the whole story. Dundee United seriously threatened Celtic several times and hit the woodwork. For Kühbauer's team, that is a sign that the Scottish defence can be attacked if LASK move quickly through midfield and find a player in the space between the centre-back and full-back.
Johnston is not in the squad for the tie
One of the more important changes in Celtic's defence concerns Alistair Johnston. The Canadian right-back was injured after the start of the season and is not among the players registered for the tie against LASK.
Colby Donovan started at right-back in the cup match against Dundee United, while Anthony Ralston is among the players registered for the European tie. For LASK, that is potentially an interesting side of the pitch, especially if George Bello or Moses Usor frequently attack that area.
On the other hand, Celtic have plenty of experience in the last line. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney give O'Neill several combinations, with Viljami Sinisalo behind them.
The second leg will tactically depend on the result from Glasgow
The biggest unknown before the match in Linz is not the line-up but the starting situation in the tie. The first match is played on 19 August, so six days later one of the teams may have to chase a deficit.
If the score after the first match is level or very close, LASK will probably have no reason to immediately open the game completely. Their play so far has shown that the team can patiently build attacks and then suddenly accelerate through Usor, Lang or the wide players.
If LASK have to chase the result, Celtic will get exactly what they can be extremely dangerous with - space for Høgh and the players coming up in support. Durán's ability to move from the flank towards the centre could then force one of the home centre-backs to leave his zone.
If Celtic come to Linz trailing, a completely different rhythm can be expected. The Scottish champions have already shown in domestic matches that they can keep an opponent under pressure for long periods and create a large number of attempts. LASK would then need to defend the space in front of their last line well while still keeping enough players available for counter-attacks.
That is why one of the more important battles will take place in midfield. Celtic want to control the tempo through McGregor, while Horvath and his teammates must prevent the visiting midfield from moving the ball towards the edge of the penalty area too easily.
There has been one previous meeting, but it was not competitive
This will be the first competitive tie between LASK and Celtic. However, the clubs are not complete strangers. They met in a friendly match in 2014, when Celtic won 5:2.
That result has no serious predictive value today. The teams, coaches and circumstances are completely different. Much more relevant is the current form: LASK opened the season with three league victories, while Celtic, after their opening 1:0 win against Dundee, are showing increasing attacking efficiency.
The difference in European experience is also interesting. Celtic have regularly played international matches for decades and have appeared far more often at the highest club level. For LASK, advancing would represent confirmation of an exceptional rise that culminated in winning the domestic double.
Oberösterreich Arena on a European night
The stadium on Froschberg is normally known as Raiffeisen Arena, while the name Oberösterreich Arena is used for international matches. It opened in 2023 following LASK's return to that part of Linz.
The stadium's capacity for domestic matches is 19,080 spectators. Particularly notable is the large stand behind the goal, where standing places are used in domestic competitions, while for international matches that section is converted to seated use. It is precisely there that the loudest home support is concentrated.
LASK have already attracted 13,241 spectators against GAK and 14,507 against SV Ried at the start of the season. The second leg against Celtic carries completely different significance, and it is realistic to expect substantially greater interest.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when a match of this importance is played in Linz.
Getting to the stadium
The arena is located on Froschberg, at Ziegeleistraße 76 in Linz. The stadium is not next to the main railway station, but it is connected by the city's bus network, and LASK recommend using public transport for their home matches.
For visitors coming to Linz for the first time, it is useful to plan to arrive early. The area around the stadium becomes very busy before matches, while the club's fan zone is located in front of the stands.
- Stadium address: Ziegeleistraße 76, Linz
- The name Oberösterreich Arena is used for international matches
- LASK recommend arriving by city public transport
- The Stadion and Ziegeleistraße bus stops are located near the stadium
- For drivers, it is safer to plan on using city car parks and allow extra time for arrival rather than looking for a space immediately next to the stadium
In information for recent home matches, LASK mentioned the possibility of using several car parks in central Linz, including the car park by the main railway station, Raiffeisen Garage Südbahnhof, City Parkhaus, Garage im Zentrum and Elisabeth Garage. Specific parking conditions may change from match to match, so they should be checked shortly before arriving for this fixture.
The same applies to the opening times of the entrances. For previous home matches, the stadium opened well before kick-off, but the detailed schedule for the match against Celtic FC may be different. For a match starting in the evening, it is sensible to be in the Froschberg area early enough that security checks and entering the stand do not become a race against time.
Linz between the railway station, city centre and Froschberg
Linz is a city on the Danube and the capital of the Austrian federal state of Oberösterreich. A practical fact for visiting supporters is that the main railway station is located south of the city centre, while the stadium is on the Froschberg hill west of the station.
The city centre and the stadium therefore do not need to be treated as two completely separate destinations. Supporters arriving in Linz early can spend the time before the match in the central part of the city and then use public transport to travel towards the stadium.
For those coming only for the match, the simplest plan is to decide in advance to arrive at the main railway station or city centre, leave enough time for the final part of the journey towards Froschberg and, after the match, again allow for heavier traffic.
It should particularly be kept in mind that an evening European match also attracts a large number of visiting supporters. Celtic have one of the largest travelling fan bases in British football, so a visible presence of green-and-white colours can be expected throughout Linz and in the away section.
What supporters will be watching most closely on the pitch
The first thing will be the result from Glasgow. Without it, it is impossible to know in advance who has to attack and who can benefit from a more patient approach. The second is LASK's ability to maintain the intensity they have shown at the start of the Austrian season.
Adeniran will provide the main test for Celtic's centre-backs. His four league goals in the opening three rounds show how quickly he punishes space in the penalty area. Usor and Lang can simultaneously force the visitors to stretch their defence towards the flanks.
At the other end, Høgh arrives as a striker who has already shown how dangerous he is from close range and in the air. LASK therefore have to control crosses from Tierney and Celtic's other wide players, rather than only marking Høgh after the ball has already entered the penalty area.
Nygren may be an even more complex problem. He does not remain permanently alongside the last line, but appears in spaces that defenders can easily lose sight of. Three consecutive competitive matches with a goal at the start of the season say enough about his form.
Discipline will also be important. Robert Ljubičić was sent off late in the league victory against Ried for a late challenge. In a match deciding qualification, there will be very little room for unnecessary cards and emotional reactions.
An atmosphere that could be different from a usual league match
LASK come into this after a season in which they won the league and cup, and now they can take the next step in front of their own supporters. Celtic bring with them extensive international experience and an away following accustomed to travelling to European matches.
The stadium is compact and the stands are close to the pitch, so the intensity from the crowd quickly transfers to the match. For the home supporters, the fact that the decision will be made in Linz will carry special significance. For the visitors, these are the final 90 minutes of a tie whose main objective is to secure a return to the league phase of the Champions League.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and planning an early arrival at Froschberg.
Sources:
- LASK - 2026/27 season schedule, dates of both matches against Celtic FC and venue of the second leg
- LASK - preview of the tie against Celtic FC, context of winning the Austrian championship, the clubs' first competitive meeting and the friendly match from 2014
- LASK - reports from matches against GAK, Austria Wien and SV Ried, results, scorers, starting line-ups and statements by Dietmar Kühbauer
- LASK - information about Raiffeisen Arena, capacity, year of opening, stands and fan zone
- LASK - information for home matches regarding public transport, entrances and city car parks
- Österreichische Bundesliga - report from the LASK - SV Ried match and confirmation of the third consecutive league victory
- Celtic FC - reports from matches against Dundee, Kilmarnock and Dundee United, scorers and line-ups
- Celtic FC - LASK preview, historical context, coach Dietmar Kühbauer and key players of the Austrian champions
- Squad list for the LASK - Celtic FC tie - registered squads and coaches of both teams
- Linz Tourismus and LINZ AG - stadium address and public transport information
- Stadt Linz - information about parking and city car parks