Prediction: Celtic vs LASK

Celtic host LASK at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, with a place in this season’s league phase and a financial reward running into the tens of millions on the line.

It’s fair to say goals are expected on both sides of the pitch.

Celtic have made an ideal start to the Premiership season, winning their opening matches without dropping a point, including a 5-1 romp away at Kilmarnock. They are averaging 2.3 goals a game so far this season. There is an added edge to this one: Celtic were knocked out at this exact play-off stage last season by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, missing out on the league phase entirely, and Brendan Rodgers’ side will see this tie as a chance to put that right.

Celtic Team News

Jota remains a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain misses out through suspension. Cameron Carter-Vickers’ involvement is unclear, with reports disagreeing on his fitness [VERIFY: confirm Carter-Vickers’ availability before publish]. Summer signings Kasper Hogh and Camilo Durán have already made an impact, contributing goals inside Celtic’s opening matches of the campaign.

LASK arrive in Glasgow as reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions, their first domestic title since 1964-65, and they have carried that form straight into the new season with an unbeaten start, including a 4-1 win over SV Ried last time out. They are averaging 2.7 goals a game domestically. This is unfamiliar territory for the Austrian side: it is the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, and LASK have not featured in Champions League qualifying since 2019-20.

LASK Team News

Ramiz Harakate and Art Smakaj are both sidelined through injury, thinning LASK’s options. Reports differ on whether Bello is available for selection. Samuel Adeniran is the focal point of the attack and arrives at Celtic Park in form.

Celtic vs LASK Key Factors to Consider

• This is the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, so there is no head-to-head pattern to lean on.
• Celtic have won seven straight competitive fixtures at Celtic Park.
• Celtic were eliminated at this same play-off stage last season by Kairat Almaty, giving this tie a redemption angle.
• LASK are reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions for the first time since 1964-65.
• LASK have not played Champions League qualifying football since the 2019-20 season.
• Celtic are averaging 2.3 goals a game this season and LASK 2.7, and neither side has looked especially tight at the back domestically.

Conclusion

Both teams have shown they can score freely, and neither defense has kept things watertight domestically this season. Celtic’s home record and the extra motivation of last season’s exit should be enough to see them take control of the tie, but LASK’s attacking form and Adeniran’s threat make it hard to back a clean sheet at either end. Both teams to score is the pick.

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