Last update at 19 August, 2026 ⏲️ Reading time: 5 minutes
Champions League @ 19.08.2026
Celtic host LASK at Celtic Park in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, with a place in the 2026/27 league phase at stake. Both sides have made a flying start to their competitive campaigns this season.
The contrast is an interesting one, though: Celtic have far more experience in demanding European fixtures of this kind, while Austrian champions LASK have started the campaign scoring at an exceptional rate.
For me, the main question is whether LASK can maintain their aggressive approach once Celtic begin to pin them back. I expect the visitors to carry a threat, but Celtic’s attacking strength makes the home side the betting option I find most convincing.
Celtic vs LASK: date, kick-off time and match details
Information | Details |
|---|---|
Match | Celtic vs LASK |
Competition | UEFA Champions League 2026/27 |
Round | Play-off, first leg |
Date | Wednesday, 19 August 2026 |
Kick-off | 20:00 BST |
Stadium | Celtic Park, Glasgow |
Surface | Grass |
Second leg | 25 August 2026 in Linz |
UK TV | TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max |
This is the first leg of the Champions League play-off, with the return fixture taking place in Austria on 25 August. The Glasgow match kicks off at 20:00 BST.
How Celtic and LASK come into the match
Celtic form
Celtic could hardly have prepared better for this match in terms of results. Martin O’Neill’s side have won all three of their competitive fixtures this season, beating Dundee 1-0, Kilmarnock 5-1 and Dundee United 4-0. That is ten goals scored and only one conceded.
What I like most is that the improvement does not depend on a single source of goals. Kasper Høgh scored a first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock, while Benjamin Nygren has found the net in each of Celtic’s first three competitive matches. Camilo Durán and Sebastian Tounekti were also on the scoresheet against Dundee United.
LASK form
LASK’s start has arguably been even more eye-catching. Dietmar Kühbauer’s side have won their opening four competitive fixtures: 7-0 against Kalsdorf in the Austrian Cup, followed by Bundesliga victories over GAK (3-0), Austria Vienna (2-0) and Ried (4-1). That leaves them with a remarkable 16-1 goal difference.
The level of opposition clearly rises significantly at Celtic Park, but I would not dismiss the importance of those numbers. LASK are the reigning Austrian champions and are playing with real confidence rather than simply scraping results. Samuel Adeniran already has four goals and one assist from three league appearances, while Moses Usor has contributed two goals and two assists.
Key factors behind my Celtic vs LASK prediction
1. Celtic have several different routes to goal
This is the biggest change I have noticed in Celtic’s opening matches. Høgh gives them a genuine presence inside the penalty area, Nygren continues to arrive in dangerous positions from midfield, while Durán and Tounekti provide pace and direct running around the striker.
Celtic have scored ten goals in three competitive matches, with four different players finding the net in the 4-0 cup win over Dundee United alone.
2. LASK’s attacking form deserves respect
Backing Celtic does not mean I expect a completely one-sided evening. LASK have scored 16 goals in four competitive matches and conceded only once. Their opening three Austrian Bundesliga fixtures brought nine points and a 9-1 goal difference.
That is why I prefer Celtic at 13/20 rather than looking for an aggressive handicap with a much smaller margin for error.
3. Celtic’s European suspension matters
Oxlade-Chamberlain will be unavailable for both legs because of a three-match UEFA suspension carried over from his time at Beşiktaş.
Celtic have enough midfield options to cover his absence, but it removes an experienced player from a match in which controlling transitions will be important. It is one of the reasons I would not rate the hosts as quite as overwhelming favourites as their domestic results alone might suggest.
4. First-leg dynamics favour Celtic applying pressure
Celtic do not need to settle the tie in Glasgow, but last season’s elimination against Kairat Almaty after two goalless matches is an obvious reminder of the danger of travelling for the second leg without an advantage.
5. The price on a home win is still playable
Celtic at 13/20 implies a probability of roughly 61%. Taking the setting, their attacking form and squad depth into account, I think that is close to the right range and still offers a small amount of value.
I would lose a fair amount of interest if the price dropped significantly below 11/20.
Celtic vs LASK statistics
Statistic | Celtic | LASK |
|---|---|---|
Competitive matches this season | 3 | 4 |
Record | 3-0-0 | 4-0-0 |
Goals scored | 10 | 16 |
Goals conceded | 1 | 1 |
Clean sheets | 2 | 3 |
Average goals scored | 3.33 | 4.00 |
League record | 2-0-0 | 3-0-0 |
League goal difference | +5 | +8 |
Leading league scorer | Høgh – 3 | Adeniran – 4 |
Most recent result | Dundee Utd 0-4 Celtic | LASK 4-1 Ried |
The numbers show why I think this match is more interesting than the 1X2 prices might initially suggest. Neither side has dropped a point in competitive action and, between them, they have scored 26 goals while conceding only two.
For me, the difference lies in the setting. LASK have been excellent domestically, but reproducing that attacking football at Celtic Park in a Champions League play-off is a very different test. Celtic have already shown that they can create danger through their centre-forward and from other areas of the pitch.
Celtic vs LASK head-to-head record
There is no meaningful sample of competitive meetings between these two sides that can be used here. The clubs met in a friendly in 2014, which Celtic won 5-2, but I would give virtually no betting significance to a match played more than a decade ago with completely different squads.
Latest Celtic vs LASK match-winner odds
Odds may change before kick-off.
The market has Celtic as clear favourites, which I think is reasonable. However, I would be reluctant to back them at much shorter than the current 13/20, because LASK’s early-season numbers are considerably stronger than those of a side normally regarded as an outsider.