Celtic's Quest for Champions League Glory: Key Players and Strategies Against LASK
Celtic head to Austria on Tuesday night with a three-goal cushion, a swagger in their step, and a sharp warning ringing in their ears. A 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at a rocking Parkhead has them within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League league phase, but the setting now changes: Linz, a snarling home crowd, and the newly crowned Austrian Bundesliga champions who have waited 61 years for that title and don’t plan on bowing out quietly.
One foot is in the door. The other still needs to be dragged over the line.
Martin O’Neill’s side look better equipped than last season’s version, scarred as it was by European missteps and a squad that felt bloated rather than balanced. This summer has been different. Fewer arrivals, more quality. Celtic have targeted upgrades, not just numbers, and the result is a group that looks sharper, more ruthless, and far more coherent across competitions.
Qualifying would almost certainly trigger another push in the market, with the board ready to spend again once the Champions League money is banked. For now, though, the focus is on finishing the job. On paper, Celtic are strong favourites against Die Laskler, even away from home. On grass, they know that margin for error shrinks the moment the whistle blows.
Sinisalo’s stage, back four settled
Between the posts, Viljami Sinisalo has quietly turned a problem position into a pillar. Promoted to first choice after Kasper Schmeichel’s injury earlier this year, the Finnish keeper has handled the pressure with a calm authority. Austria offers another examination. LASK will throw everything at him early; another resolute display could extinguish the tie before the hosts truly believe.
In front of him, the back four almost picks itself.
With Alistair Johnston sidelined until October, Colby Donovan is expected to continue at right-back. The American has grown into the role, offering aggression in the tackle and enough thrust going forward to keep opponents honest. At the heart of the defence, the USMNT pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty have formed a rugged, no-nonsense partnership. They dominated the aerial duels and the physical battles in Glasgow; now they must do it again in a far more hostile environment.
On the left, Kieran Tierney remains untouchable. His blend of timing in the tackle, recovery pace, and that familiar burst down the flank makes him indispensable in this Celtic system. When he surges forward, the whole team shifts with him.
Liam Scales should again be among the substitutes, the Irishman offering valuable flexibility as both a centre-half and a left-back. If O’Neill needs to lock things down late or reshuffle due to an injury, Scales is the natural plug-in.
Baur’s baton, McGregor’s control
The middle of the park has a new conductor. Celtic moved decisively to bring in Mika Baur as the successor to Arne Engels, and the German playmaker is expected to start at the base of midfield. He will likely form a double pivot with captain Callum McGregor, a partnership built on control, tempo and smart positioning rather than sheer physicality.
Baur’s task is clear: take the sting out of LASK’s press, keep the ball moving, and pick the right moments to pierce the lines. McGregor, as ever, will knit everything together, dropping deep when required, stepping higher when Celtic sense blood.
O’Neill also has the luxury of seasoned quality in reserve. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate are all strong candidates to come on in the second half, whether to steady the ship, add legs, or chase another goal if the game opens up. It’s the kind of midfield depth Celtic lacked in previous campaigns.
Wide threats and a selfless striker
Out wide, Benjamin Nygren is impossible to ignore. His form has been electric, and he underlined it in the first leg with both a goal and an assist against LASK. Every time he receives the ball, there’s a sense something might happen – a dart inside, a slide-rule pass, or a shot whipped at goal.
On the opposite flank, Yang Hyun-jun is expected to keep his place ahead of Sebastian Tounekti. The South Korean still needs polish in his finishing and final ball, but his relentless energy, pressing, and willingness to run at defenders make him invaluable in a tie where Celtic cannot afford to sit back and invite pressure. His work rate could be crucial in pinning LASK’s full-backs and disrupting their build-up.
Waiting in the wings, literally and figuratively, are Tounekti, veteran James Forrest, and big-money signing Haissem Hassan. All three offer different tools if the game’s rhythm shifts – experience from Forrest, directness from Tounekti, and raw, high-ceiling flair from Hassan.
Through the middle, the story of the tie has quietly been Camilo Duran’s sacrifice. Naturally a number 9, he has willingly stepped aside to accommodate Kasper Høgh as the central striker. It has not dulled his impact. Duran hit two goals in the first leg, attacking from a deeper role and timing his runs superbly as LASK’s back line buckled.
Høgh, meanwhile, provides the focal point. He occupies defenders, battles for long balls, and creates the space Duran and the wingers love to attack. If Celtic score in Austria, there is every chance one of those two will be at the heart of it.
One more job to finish
Celtic arrive in Austria with momentum, a 3-0 cushion, and a squad that suddenly looks built for nights like this. LASK, newly crowned champions at long last, will not go quietly at home. Their record in Linz demands respect, not relaxation.
O’Neill’s men know the equation: stay organised, stay ruthless, and silence the stadium early if they can. They have already taken a huge stride toward the Champions League league phase.
Now comes the test that will show whether this Celtic side is merely improved – or genuinely ready to belong on Europe’s biggest stage.
