Celtic beat LASK 3-0 in the Champions League playoff opener

Celtic beat LASK 3-0 in the opening match of their Champions League playoff. Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring after 26 minutes at Celtic Park. Camilo Duran added goals in the 38th and 67th minutes.

The result gives Celtic a three-goal aggregate lead before the return match. LASK hosts that match on Tuesday, 25 August. The winner enters the 2026/27 Champions League phase.

Nygren and Duran scored before half-time

Celtic started in a 4-3-3 formation under Martin O’Neill. Nygren played in midfield beside captain Callum McGregor. Duran started from the left side of the attacking line. Nygren scored the opening goal in the 26th minute. His finish converted Celtic‘s first major chance of the match. LASK then faced a different task while playing away from home.

Duran doubled the lead twelve minutes later. Celtic reached half-time with two goals and no concession. That interval score changed the balance of the remaining 45 minutes. LASK still reached attacking positions during the first half. Its final actions did not produce a goal. Celtic‘s stronger finishing created the clear difference on the scoreboard.

Duran’s second goal increased Celtic ‘s advantage. Duran scored again after 67 minutes for his second goal. The forward completed a decisive individual contribution without playing the entire match. Haissem Hassan replaced him later in the second half. Celtic also changed both full-back positions during the match. Liam Scales replaced Kieran Tierney after 73 minutes. Anthony Ralston entered for Cian Donovan as the hosts protected their advantage.

Celtic conceded no goals while scoring three times.

LASK has no away goal to reduce the return requirement. It now requires at least three goals in Austria to force extra time. Celtic still has 90 scheduled minutes left in the contest. An early LASK goal would alter the pressure. The Scottish side enters that match with several possible scorelines available.

Celtic and LASK started with different formations

LASK started with three central defenders and two wing-backs. Dietmar Kuhbauer selected a 3-5-2 formation for the away match. Samuel Adeniran and Moses Usor formed the attacking pair. Celtic used three forwards around Kasper Hogh. Yang Hyun-jun attacked from the opposite side to Duran. That width placed LASK‘s wing-backs under repeated defensive work.

Possession alone did not explain the final margin. LASK produced several counterattacking moments without finishing them. Celtic converted three of its important openings. The return match may produce different formations from both teams. LASK requires goals and carries greater attacking risk. Celtic holds an advantage and still has space to attack.

The return match will decide qualification. The play-off belongs to the champions path of qualifying. Celtic entered the draw directly against the Austrian champion. LASK earned its place after winning the 2025/26 domestic title. The league phase includes 36 clubs and eight matches per team. Qualification brings four home fixtures and four away fixtures. It also guarantees European matches through January.

LASK has one home match to change the aggregate score.

Celtic has a lead large enough to influence every decision. Neither club has received a league-phase place yet. The opening match supplied three goals without a reply from LASK. The return decides whether that work earns qualification. LASK starts the return match requiring at least three goals.

Celtic converted three major scoring chances

LASK entered Glasgow after winning its opening three Austrian league matches. The visitors therefore arrived with recent competitive rhythm. Their forwards still failed to turn promising attacks into a goal. Celtic scored twice before half-time from important openings. Nygren and Duran gave the home side control without requiring constant shooting. Duran then extended the margin after the interval. That efficiency matters across a two-match contest. Missed chances disappear from the aggregate record. Converted chances define the exact task facing both teams one week later.

LASK now hosts the return with little room for another missed opportunity. Celtic enters after scoring three times without conceding. The difference came from execution near each penalty area. LASK is seeking its first place in the Champions League league phase. Celtic is trying to return after missing the previous campaign. The return match settles both objectives through one aggregate score.