Celtic vs LASK Prediction & Preview - UEFA Champions League

·2 min read·By Denver

Celtic host LASK in their Champions League play-off first leg on 19 August - team news, form and our score prediction.

Celtic face LASK in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off round on Wednesday 19 August 2026, with a place in the group stage proper at stake. Kick-off is 20:00 BST. Full details and the chance to make a prediction on the tie are on the Celtic vs LASK match page.

  • Fixture: Celtic vs LASK
  • Competition: UEFA Champions League play-off round, first leg
  • Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026
  • Kick-off: 20:00 BST

What time is kick-off for Celtic vs LASK?

Celtic vs LASK kicks off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday 19 August 2026, the first leg of a Champions League play-off tie that decides who reaches this season's group stage. It is Celtic's first fixture in the round after their run through the earlier qualifying stages of the campaign so far.

Team news for Celtic vs LASK

Celtic have an injury concern over Alistair Johnston, who was withdrawn at half-time during Sunday's 5-1 Premiership win over Kilmarnock and is expected to be absent until mid-September. Yang Hyun-jun is also a doubt, having missed the squad for Friday's League Cup win over Dundee United.

LASK head into the tie with fitness worries of their own. Samuel Adeniran, Sascha Horvath and Kasper Jorgensen were all withdrawn during their 4-1 win over SV Ried last Friday, and manager Dietmar Kühbauer will be assessing all three before Wednesday.

Celtic vs LASK head-to-head and recent form

There is no previous meeting between these two clubs in our archive, so this play-off tie is a first competitive test of one against the other. Recent form gives a clearer picture.

Celtic have won their last four matches in all competitions: 4-0 away at Dundee United in the League Cup, 5-1 at Kilmarnock, 1-0 at home to Dundee, and a 2-2 draw with AC Milan in a friendly before that run began. LASK have been just as sharp domestically, beating SV Ried 4-1, winning 2-0 away at FK Austria Wien, putting three past Grazer AK 1902 and scoring seven in an Austrian Cup tie against SC Kalsdorf. Both sides arrive unbeaten across their last several outings, which makes the head-to-head gap in quality harder to call from form alone.

Celtic vs LASK prediction

Celtic should have enough to win the first leg of this UEFA Champions League play-off tie against LASK, despite doubts over Alistair Johnston and Yang Hyun-jun. Celtic's results have come with more control and against a higher standard of opposition, including a 5-1 away win at Kilmarnock, while LASK's biggest wins have come against weaker Austrian sides. LASK's own injury concerns from the SV Ried game add to the case for Celtic at home.

Our prediction: Celtic 2-1 LASK

Make your prediction

You don't have to agree with that call. Head to the Celtic vs LASK match page to make your own prediction for free, then check how the prediction game works if you're new to it. Get it right often enough across the season and you're in the running for a share of the prizes on the leaderboard.

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