Celtic vs LASK Linz Preview – prediction, team news, lineups | UCL 2026-27 Qualifying
The only outing between these clubs took place in 2014!
The Scottish Premiership side, Celtic FC, are going to have a face-off against the Austrian Bundesliga club, LASK Linz, for their first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 qualifying matchup. This will be an interesting outing to watch, taking place at Celtic Park.
After a positive pre-season, the Martin O’Neill-led side have started their 2026-27 campaign in style. They have secured consecutive wins in their last three matches and will be looking to add another to their tally.
Celtic FC are aiming to compete in the upcoming season of the Champions League and a win in the first leg is going to benefit them a lot. They have firepower on the attacking front and are doing well in defence. Controlling the game from the start will surely help them against their opponents.
LASK Linz have also started their new season on a positive note. They have secured wins in all four of their matches in the 2026-27 campaign. The Black-Whites are now going to face tough competition. To compete in the UCL 2026-27, they need to take down the Scottish Premiership club.
Dietmar Kühbauer’s side also has strong firepower in the final third. Away from home, it is going to be a stern test for their defence and this will be interesting to watch.
Kick-off:
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
- Stadium: Celtic Park
- Date: Thursday, August 20
- Kick-off time: 12:30 am IST (Wednesday, August 19; 07:00 pm GMT, 02:30 pm ET, 11:30 am PT)
- Referee: Not decided
- VAR: In Use
Form:
Celtic: W-W-W
LASK: W-W-W-W
Players to Watch
Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)
Benjamin Nygren is going to play a crucial part for Celtic FC. From controlling the midfield to scoring goals, he showed a top-of-the-line performance for his side in the recent domestic club cup encounter. The 25-year-old Swedish midfielder scored one goal and bagged two assists. With his all-round performance, he was the standout player for his side.
Moses Usor (LASK Linz)
The 24-year-old is going to be one of the main men in the final third for LASK Linz. He was one of the goal scorers for LASK Linz in their last league outing. Moses Usor also secured two assists and was named Player of the Match. He will be looking to come up with another top performance and can be a game-changer for the Austrian club once again.
Match Facts
- Celtic FC are on a three-match winning streak.
- LASK Linz have secured consecutive wins in their last four games.
- This will be the first-ever competitive clash between these clubs.
Betting Tips & Odds
- Celtic to win @13/20 bet365
- Benjamin Nygren to score @23/10 Paddy Power
- Goals under 3.5 @2/5 Unibet
Injury and Team News
Celtic FC will miss out on the services of Jota, who has been out due to a long-term injury.
All of the squad members for LASK Linz are fit and ready to be in action.
Head-to-Head
Matches Played: 1
Celtic (wins): 1
LASK (wins): 0
Draws: 0
Predicted Lineups
Celtic predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Sinisalo (GK); Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Scales; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Duran, Nygren, Tounekti; Hogh
LASK predicted XI (3-5-2)
Jungwirth (GK); Mbuyanba, Alemao, Andrade; Jorgensen, Ljubicic, Bogarde, Horvath, Bello; Usor, Adeniran
Match Prediction
Both of these clubs have quality players in their squads. Neither of these teams are going to back down. The Martin O’Neill-led side are going to have a slight edge because it is a home game.
Celtic FC are likely to come out on top and secure a win against LASK Linz.
Prediction: Celtic 2-1 LASK
Telecast Details
India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
UK: TNT Sports, HBO Max
USA: Paramount+
When and where is Celtic vs LASK UCL qualifying match?
The contest takes place at Celtic Park on August 19.
Where and how to watch UCL qualifying matches in India?
By tuning into Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV fans will be able to view all the games live.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.