Celtic to host LASK Linz in UCL 2026-27 first qualifying leg at Celtic Park on August 19
Celtic FC will host LASK Linz at Celtic Park on August 19 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League 2026-27 qualifying tie. Both sides arrive on the back of positive starts to their 2026-27 campaigns.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic carried momentum from a strong pre-season into the new season, recording three consecutive wins at the start of 2026-27. The club are targeting qualification for the Champions League and the manager’s side are noted in the preview as possessing attacking firepower while also performing well defensively; the coverage adds that taking control from the outset would be important for Celtic.
LASK Linz, coached by Dietmar Kühbauer, have opened their 2026-27 campaign with four straight victories. The Austrian side are described as having potent attacking options in the final third and will face an away defensive challenge at Celtic Park as they seek a result to keep their UCL ambitions alive.
Benjamin Nygren is singled out for Celtic after his recent domestic cup display, with the 25-year-old Swedish midfielder scoring once and providing two assists in that match. Nygren said, "It was a very good performance, the whole team was good today."
The preview notes an unnamed 24-year-old as a key figure for LASK in the final third and reports he scored in LASK’s last league outing. Moses Usor is also mentioned as having registered two assists and earning Player of the Match in that same league game; the article states he will be looking to produce another strong showing and "can be a game-changer for the Austrian club once again."
Celtic will be without Jota due to a long-term injury, while the report states all LASK squad members are fit and available. Projected lineups listed in the preview are: Sinisalo (GK); Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Scales; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Duran, Nygren, Tounekti; Hogh Jungwirth (GK); Mbuyanba, Alemao, Andrade; Jorgensen, Ljubicic, Bogarde, Horvath, Bello; Usor, Adeniran
The article concludes that both teams possess quality in their squads and are unlikely to yield ground, with Martin O’Neill’s side given a slight edge because the tie is at home. Broadcast details provided list India coverage on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV, and UK coverage on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
The first leg of this UEFA Champions League 2026-27 qualifying tie is set for August 19 at Celtic Park. The piece was written by Dilpreet, described in the preview as a dedicated football writer who joined Khel Now in 2025 and is a Real Madrid fan.