Celtic Aim to Secure Champions League Spot Against LASK

Celtic head to Austria on Tuesday night with a three-goal cushion, a place in the UEFA Champions League league phase within touching distance – and a warning ringing in their ears. LASK have just ended a 61-year wait for the Austrian Bundesliga title and built that triumph on a formidable home record. This is not the place to drift through a second leg.

Martin O’Neill knows it. Last season’s bruises in Europe forced a rethink: fewer bodies, more quality. The summer has been about precision, not panic, and the early evidence across competitions suggests Celtic have found a sharper edge. Even away from Parkhead, they go into Linz as clear favourites after that 3-0 first-leg win at Celtic Park.

But favourites can still get hurt if they switch off.

Sinisalo’s stage

In goal, Viljami Sinisalo has quietly turned a temporary promotion into a statement of intent. With Kasper Schmeichel sidelined since earlier this year, the Finn has stepped up, looking increasingly assured behind a settled defence. Celtic continue to scan the market for another goalkeeper, but right now this tie is Sinisalo’s to command. Another calm, authoritative night from him would go a long way to killing any LASK belief.

Ahead of him, the back four almost picks itself. Colby Donovan is set to patrol the right flank again, with Alistair Johnston out until October. Donovan’s first-leg duel at Parkhead – including that physical battle with George Bello – showed he can handle the tempo and the tension of this stage.

In the middle, the USMNT partnership of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty has hardened into a reliable spine. They were dominant in Glasgow, reading the game well and winning their duels, and they will be asked to silence a LASK attack that thrives on momentum at home. On the left, Kieran Tierney brings the familiar blend of aggression and elegance, driving forward yet rarely neglecting his defensive brief. His influence in the defensive third makes him virtually undroppable.

Liam Scales offers O’Neill a useful safety net from the bench, able to slot in as a centre-half or cover Tierney at left-back if the night turns attritional.

New balance in midfield

The engine room has a fresh look but a familiar conductor. Mika Baur, brought in as Arne Engels’ successor, is expected to sit deep and form a double pivot with captain Callum McGregor. It’s a pairing built for control: Baur’s passing range and composure dovetailing with McGregor’s tempo-setting and leadership.

If the tie opens up or Celtic need to change the rhythm, O’Neill has options. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can inject forward thrust from midfield, Luke McCowan offers energy and drive between the lines, and Reo Hatate brings guile and clever movement. All three are strong candidates to come off the bench in the second half, either to chase more goals or to reassert control if LASK rally.

Higher up, Benjamin Nygren is the man in form. He scored and assisted in the first leg, tormenting LASK with his timing and end product. His confidence is soaring, and his ability to influence the game from advanced areas again could decide how quickly Celtic slam the door on any comeback.

Wide threats and a selfless striker

On the flanks, Yang Hyun-jun is pushing his case. His finishing and final ball still need polish, but his relentless running, pressing and work rate give Celtic a different gear out wide. That intensity is likely to earn him the nod over Sebastian Tounekti, at least from the start, as O’Neill looks to disrupt LASK’s build-up and keep them pinned back.

Tounekti will not be alone on the bench. Veteran James Forrest remains a trusted option, capable of calming a frantic spell or exploiting tired legs, while big-money signing Haissem Hassan adds another dynamic, direct threat if Celtic want to twist the knife late on.

Through the middle, the story of this tie has been Camilo Duran’s sacrifice. A natural No. 9, he has stepped aside to accommodate Kasper Høgh up top, yet still found a way to shine. Duran struck twice in the first leg, ghosting into dangerous positions and punishing LASK’s defensive lapses. His willingness to adapt for the team – and still deliver – has given Celtic a potent, flexible attacking shape.

Høgh, for his part, anchors the line, occupying centre-backs and creating space for runners around him. If he pins LASK’s defence back again, the likes of Nygren, Yang and Duran will have room to exploit.

Celtic arrive in Austria with the scoreline, the form and the squad depth all tilted in their favour. The danger lies not in what they lack, but in what they might take for granted. With the Champions League league phase beckoning and the promise of further investment on the horizon, the real question is simple: do they finish the job with authority, or give LASK a glimmer they don’t deserve?