Celtic drawn to face Austrian champions LASK in Champions League play-off as four other Scottish sides await Europa and Conference League draws.
The fixture was confirmed by BBC Sport, which reported the draw for the Champions League play‑off stage. The result means the Scottish Premiership champions will compete for a place in the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition.
Key Facts
- Celtic will play against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round.
- Four other Scottish sides await Europa League and Conference League draws.
- The draw was reported by BBC Sport.
What does the Champions League play-off round involve?
The Champions League play-off round is a two‑legged tie that decides which teams advance to the tournament’s group stage. Winners of each match earn a place among the 32 clubs that compete in the group phase, while the losers drop into the Europa League. The draw pairs teams based on their coefficients and seeding, with no geographical restrictions applied at this stage.
For Celtic, the match against LASK represents an opportunity to secure valuable European revenue and test the squad against a side that won the Austrian Bundesliga. LASK, as the reigning Austrian champions, qualified for the champions, earned their place by winning their domestic league. The play‑off format means the first leg will be hosted by one side, with the return leg at the opponent’s stadium, and the aggregate score over the two matches determines who progresses.
What happens next for the clubs?
Following the draw, both clubs will begin preparations for the opening leg, which UEFA will schedule in the coming weeks. Exact dates, kick‑off times and venue assignments will be announced by UEFA’s competition committee once the calendar is finalised. Fans can expect ticket information and travel details to be released shortly after the schedule is published.
The four other Scottish clubs mentioned in the summary will learn their Europa League and Conference League opponents in separate draws that are scheduled after the Champions League play‑off fixtures are set. Those draws will determine which Scottish sides enter the group stages of those competitions and which face qualifying rounds.
What We Know — and What We Don’t
Verified by the source:
- Celtic will play against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round.
- Four other Scottish sides await Europa League and Conference League draws.
- The draw was reported by BBC Sport.
Still unconfirmed:
- The exact dates and venues for the Celtic‑LASK tie.
- Whether Celtic will have home or away advantage in the first leg.
- The identities of the four other Scottish sides awaiting the Europa and Conference League draws.
- The specific opponents those Scottish clubs may face in the upcoming draws.
Why It Matters
The Champions League play‑off tie offers Celtic a chance to earn significant broadcasting and prize money, which can bolster the club’s finances and support player recruitment. Success would also raise the profile of Scottish football on the continental stage, potentially increasing the league’s coefficient and future seeding for Scottish clubs in European draws.
What To Watch
Watch for UEFA’s official announcement of the play‑off schedule, which will confirm the dates, venues and home‑away order for the Celtic‑LASK match. The subsequent Europa and Conference League draws will reveal the paths for the other Scottish clubs involved.