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Celtic vs LASK match

Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.

The gist

Celtic host LASK in a Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic Park on Aug 19, 2026. The winner advances to the lucrative group stage, with a £40 million prize.

Background

Celtic and LASK are competing in a two-legged Champions League play-off, with the winner earning a spot in the group stage. Celtic are in strong form domestically, while LASK won their first Austrian title since 1965 and are on an eight-match winning streak. The tie carries significant financial weight, estimated at £40 million.

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 8, 2014Celtic and LASK met in a pre-season friendly, with Celtic winning 5-2 away.
  2. Aug 19, 2026First leg at Celtic Park in Glasgow, kicking off at 19:00 UTC. Celtic are expected to field a strong side, while LASK are missing key players.
  3. Aug 25, 2026Return fixture scheduled in Linz, Austria.

Who’s saying what

Analysts
Celtic are favored to win the first leg, with a predicted 2-1 scoreline, given home advantage and LASK's defensive absences.
Caution
LASK's eight-game winning streak and prolific scoring make them a dangerous opponent, and Celtic's defense has shown lapses.

Still unverified

The £40 million figure is an estimate from media sources and not officially confirmed.

Sources

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