Celtic has been drawn to face LASK in the Champions League qualifying playoffs, successfully avoiding a rematch with Kairat Almaty, who eliminated them on penalties at the same stage last season. The first leg of the matchup is scheduled to take place on August 18 or 19, with the return leg set for the following week.

Match Details

UEFA has confirmed that Celtic will host the first leg at Celtic Park before traveling to Austria for the second leg against LASK on August 25 or 26. LASK, the champions of the Austrian Bundesliga, secured their title last season by finishing just two points ahead of the defending champions, Sturm Graz. Their head coach, Didi Kuhbauer, described the victory as a "fairytale," reflecting on the unexpected nature of their success over the past seven months.

LASK's European Journey

LASK has a mixed record in European competitions, having only won two ties before becoming regular participants from 2018. They reached the last 16 of the Europa League in 2020 and matched that achievement in the Conference League two years later, defeating St Johnstone 3-1 on aggregate in the playoffs. However, they have struggled recently, winning just one of their last 14 European matches and finishing 35th in the Conference League last season.

As Celtic prepares for this crucial playoff, they will be looking to build on their previous experiences and advance further in the tournament. The upcoming matches promise to be an exciting challenge for both teams involved.