Celtic go to Raiffeisen Arena three goals to the good, with the task of protecting their first-leg advantage.
Celtic travel to Austria on Tuesday night holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg, with Camilo Duran’s double and a Benjamin Nygren strike doing the damage at Celtic Park. That result, recapped in full in our first-leg report on Duran’s double, has Celtic 90 minutes away from the Champions League league phase for the first time since 2024-25, having missed out against Kairat Almaty in the playoff round last season.
LASK will look to offer more on home soil. According to Sportsmole, Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side edged the expected-goals battle in the first leg, 1.58 to 0.93, and registered 20 shots without scoring. They are unbeaten in eight competitive home fixtures, although they have not won any of their last five European matches at home.
Team News and Selection
Jota remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, but the rest of Celtic’s squad should be fit for selection. Vil Sinisalo is predicted to start in goal behind a back four of Colby Donovan, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Kieran Tierney.
Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Mika Baur are predicted to form the midfield, with Duran, Kasper Hogh and Yang Hyun-Jun in the forward areas. LASK have no fresh injury concerns, although forward Ramiz Harakate remains unavailable with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Kuhbauer could name a similar side to the one that created chances in Glasgow, with Moses Usor and Samuel Adeniran among the likely attacking options.
What’s at Stake in Linz
Celtic carry a three-goal advantage into the second leg and will aim to retain it to secure a place in the Champions League league phase. LASK showed in the first meeting that they can create openings, making the return in Linz a significant test despite Celtic’s strong position.
For Martin O’Neill, the tie is an opportunity to guide Celtic back into Europe’s premier competition. A composed performance in Linz would complete the job after the 3-0 win at Celtic Park. Mon The Hoops.