Celtic Ready for Crucial Clash in Austria Against LASK

Celtic head to Austria with the job half-done and a warning ringing in their ears.

A 3-0 first-leg victory at a raucous Parkhead has them within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League league phase, but LASK’s ferocious home form and the glow of a first Austrian Bundesliga title in 61 years mean this tie is not quite in the “mission accomplished” file yet. One bad night, and that comfort can evaporate.

This version of Celtic, though, carries the scars of last season. The club reacted, not by stockpiling bodies, but by targeting quality. The early evidence across competitions suggests they’ve got it right. They arrive in Linz as clear favourites against Die Laskler, even with the second leg on foreign soil, and they are already eyeing another injection of spending power if they finish the job.

Sinisalo’s Stage

Between the posts, Viljami Sinisalo suddenly finds himself in the spotlight. Celtic are still scanning the market for another goalkeeper, but the Finn has seized his chance since Kasper Schmeichel’s injury earlier this year. He has looked assured, aggressive off his line, and clean with his handling. This is another test of his growing authority, away from home, with LASK forced to chase the game.

In front of him, Martin O’Neill is expected to keep faith with the back four that handled the first leg so calmly. Colby Donovan should again patrol the right flank, with Alistair Johnston sidelined until October. Donovan’s engine and willingness to engage high up the pitch suit Celtic’s approach, particularly if LASK throw numbers forward.

At centre-back, the USMNT pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty has given Celtic a rugged, reliable core. They read danger early, they relish duels, and they rarely get dragged into chaos. On the left, Kieran Tierney brings a different flavour: drive, precision, and a constant overlap that stretches opponents. His influence in the defensive third and in transition makes him close to untouchable in this line-up.

Liam Scales offers O’Neill a useful safety net from the bench. The Irishman can slot in as a centre-half or cover Tierney at left-back, which could prove vital if the tempo spikes or if Celtic look to shut the game down late on.

A New Look in the Middle

The midfield has been subtly reshaped. Mika Baur has been brought in as the successor to Arne Engels, and the German is expected to operate from deep, knitting play together rather than chasing headlines. He should form a double pivot with captain Callum McGregor, whose calm distribution and positional intelligence remain the heartbeat of this side.

O’Neill has options if the pattern of the game changes. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate are all likely candidates to be introduced after the break, either to inject fresh legs and creativity or to regain control if LASK start to build a head of steam. It’s a luxury Celtic didn’t always have in recent seasons: genuine, game-changing depth.

Higher up, Benjamin Nygren is in the kind of form that makes selection straightforward. He both scored and assisted in the first leg, constantly finding pockets of space and punishing LASK’s defensive lapses. His confidence, on a pitch where the home side must commit bodies forward, could be decisive again.

Wide Threats and Relentless Running

Then there is Camilo Duran, the forward who has willingly stepped out of his comfort zone. Naturally a ‘number 9’, he has shifted his role to accommodate Kasper Høgh through the middle. The sacrifice has not dulled his edge. Duran struck twice in the first leg, thriving off the left and drifting into dangerous central areas when the chance arose. His movement will again be a headache for a LASK defence forced to defend big spaces.

On the opposite flank, Yang Hyun-jun remains a work in progress in the final third. His finishing and final ball still need sharpening, but his relentless pressing, energy, and willingness to track back give him the nod over Sebastian Tounekti. In a tie where Celtic cannot afford to invite pressure, that kind of work rate is gold.

Tounekti will likely be among the substitutes, alongside veteran James Forrest and big-money signing Haissem Hassan. That trio offers three very different wing options: direct running, experience and composure, and raw flair. If the game opens up, O’Neill will have the tools to either twist the knife or steady the ship.

Up front, Høgh remains the focal point, the reference that allows everything else to click into place. With a three-goal cushion and a hostile Austrian crowd waiting, Celtic don’t need to be reckless. They just need to be ruthless.

They have one foot in the Champions League. Austria will reveal whether this Celtic side has the maturity to plant the other.