Alex MacQuoid
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Celtic arrive in Linz with a 3-0 lead from the first leg, which changes everything about how this match will be played. LASK need to score three goals just to force extra time, and Dietmar Kühbauer’s side have shown they can put goals on the board – 16 in their last five games is not a number to dismiss. Still, the Austrian outfit are walking into this second leg against a Celtic team that has looked genuinely sharp going forward, and Martin O’Neill’s men carry real confidence after that dominant result at Celtic Park. One thing worth watching: LASK have conceded just once across their four Austrian league wins heading into this, yet shipped three without reply the moment they stepped into European competition. That gap in quality is real, and the numbers reflect it.
Camilo Duran has been Celtic’s standout attacker in recent weeks, with six goals and two assists across his last five appearances – the kind of form that makes defenders nervous regardless of the scoreline. For LASK, Samuel Adeniran is the player most likely to cause problems, five goals in six matches and a clear willingness to run in behind. If LASK have any hope of turning this tie, it probably runs through him.
Hot stat: Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren has contributed five goals and five assists in just five matches, making him arguably the most productive player in this tie on a per-game basis.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Champions League 2026/27 – Playoffs |
| 🏟 Venue: | Raiffeisen Arena, Linz |
| 🗓️ Date: | 25.08.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 21:00 CEST |
LASK vs Celtic Prediction
Celtic hold a three-goal advantage going into this second leg, and the tie is, for all practical purposes, already decided. The question is not really who goes through – it’s how the match itself unfolds. LASK will be forced to attack from the start, which opens space behind their defensive line. Celtic’s forwards have been feasting on exactly that kind of situation, and we think the visitors will find the net at least once, probably more.
The best value here is not on the match winner. A Celtic win or a high-scoring game both carry logic, but the market that stands out is Celtic to score over 1.5 goals in the match. They’ve been averaging more than three per game recently, they arrive with zero pressure to protect a lead aggressively, and LASK’s defensive record in European competition is poor. A draw at 3.80-3.99 is mildly interesting if you believe LASK can keep it tight early and Celtic go through the motions, but honestly that scenario feels unlikely given the attacking personnel O’Neill has available.
LASK’s style in the Austrian league leans on high pressing and direct transitions, evidenced by 46 interceptions and 45 free kicks conceded across five matches. Celtic on the other hand play more possession-based football – 3,100 passes with 88% accuracy versus LASK’s 84% – which should allow them to control tempo and frustrate the home side’s press over time. LASK’s single red card in recent matches is also a flag; this team can get scrappy when the game turns against them, and Celtic’s ability to draw fouls and work set pieces could be decisive.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Celtic to score in both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
LASK have been in strong domestic form, winning four of their last five matches with a combined score of 16 goals for and just one against in those four wins. The 7-0 demolition of Kalsdorf and the 4-1 win over Ried show a team that can be clinical when the opposition is within their range. Their 4-3-3 setup gives them width and directness, and Christoph Lang has been in remarkable form – six goals across six appearances. The problem is that the step up to Celtic’s level exposed real weaknesses. The 0-3 defeat in the first leg was not flattering to LASK, and their pressing game, which works well against Austrian opposition, was picked apart by Celtic’s passing structure.
Celtic’s form across the last 30 days reads four wins and one draw from five matches, and the quality of opposition has been mixed but the performances have been consistent. The 5-1 win over Kilmarnock and 4-0 against Dundee United both showed a team comfortable in front of goal. The draw with Milan earlier in this run is the one result that adds context – Celtic can be stretched by top-level pressing, though they recovered well from that. Their 3-5-2 formation gives them compactness in midfield while still supporting the two forwards, and with Nygren and Duran both in this kind of form, LASK’s defensive unit is going to be tested severely.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | LASK | Celtic |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 3 |
🚨Check out our dedicated LASK vs Celtic stats page for more info.
LASK. Source: Official Facebook
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: LASK the Favourite
- Moneyline LASK 1.97 | Celtic 3.40
- Draw 3.88
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The bookmakers making LASK the match favourite at roughly 48% win probability reflects the home advantage and the desperation factor – LASK genuinely must attack, which historically inflates the home win probability in second legs. But the tie probability sits at 28%, and Celtic at around 24% for the 90 minutes. We think the Celtic price around 3.30-3.58 across various books has real value given how dominant they were in the first leg and how exposed LASK looked defensively in European competition. LASK winning the match 3-0 or better to level the tie is possible, maybe at 15-20% probability honestly, but Celtic scoring at least once and making that mountain unclimbable feels like the more likely outcome by some margin.
Possible Starting Lineups
LASK Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Lukas Jungwirth
- DF: Andres Andrade, Xavier Mbuyamba, João Victor Tornich, George Bello
- MF: Sascha Horvath, Robert Ljubicic, Krystof Danek
- FW: Christoph Lang, Samuel Adeniran, Moses Usor
Kühbauer is likely to stick with his 4-3-3 setup, the formation LASK have used in all five recent matches. Jungwirth is the clear first-choice goalkeeper with 11 saves in six appearances. Andrade brings both defensive solidity and a goal threat from set pieces – two goals from defence is a useful weapon when LASK need to chase the game. Adeniran leads the line and is the focal point of the attack with five goals in six games. Christoph Lang’s six-goal return in recent weeks makes him the most dangerous creative outlet, and his ability to arrive late into the box is something Celtic’s defensive line will need to account for. Moses Usor adds pace and directness from midfield, having contributed two goals and two assists. This team will need to score three without reply – the personnel is there to make it uncomfortable, but the task is enormous.
Celtic Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Viljami Sinisalo
- DF: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney, Colby Donovan, Alistair Johnston
- MF: Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Luke McCowan
- FW: Camilo Duran, Benjamin Nygren
Celtic’s 3-5-2 gives O’Neill defensive depth while keeping two genuine goal threats up front. Sinisalo has been reliable between the posts with 25 saves across six matches. Carter-Vickers anchors the defence with eight interceptions and consistent passing accuracy – he’s been one of the quieter but more important figures in Celtic’s recent run. The real story is up front. Nygren and Duran together form one of the most productive attacking partnerships in this competition right now – eleven goals and seven assists between them in recent weeks. McGregor’s passing volume and accuracy from midfield, 363 accurate passes from 387, keeps the team ticking. Tierney provides the left-sided attacking outlet and has chipped in with an assist. Celtic have the firepower to score in Linz, and that changes the entire dynamic of any LASK comeback attempt.
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Celtic. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
LASK are facing a near-impossible task. Three goals down from the first leg, playing against a Celtic side that has scored 18 goals in their last five matches, with a goalkeeper in Sinisalo who has been hard to beat. The home crowd and the desperation of the situation will push LASK forward, and they are good enough domestically to score – Adeniran, Lang, and Usor all carry a threat. But Celtic away from home have been solid, and the moment Celtic score, the tie is mathematically over for LASK in terms of the aggregate.
We think Celtic win this match, probably 1-2 or 0-2, with both teams finding the net. LASK will get at least one chance and likely convert given how open this game will be, but Celtic’s attacking depth is just too much for a side that has already shown it cannot contain them at the back. Over 2.5 goals in the match looks like the safest bet, and Celtic to score in both halves carries real appeal at the available prices. The tie itself is already Celtic’s, and the second leg will likely confirm that without too much drama.
