Celtic Drawn Against LASK in Champions League Play-off
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- Celtic were drawn against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round, with the first leg at home on 18/19 August and the return game the following week.
- LASK won their domestic title for the second time last season — their first since 1965 — and qualified directly for the play-off round, making the tie likely the toughest draw Celtic could have received from the seeded options.
- Rangers will face either Larne or Iberia Tbilisi of Georgia in the Europa League play-offs if they defeat Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland, but would drop to Jablonec of Czech Republic or RFS of Latvia if eliminated.
- Heart of Midlothian take on AGF Aarhus of Denmark or Sabah of Azerbaijan if they beat Benfica, or face Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia or Rapid Vienna of Austria if they lose.
- Motherwell will meet Freiburg of Germany if they overcome Finland's HJK Helsinki.
- Hibernian face IFK Gothenburg of Sweden or Gent of Belgium if they eliminate Shkendija of North Macedonia.
Why it matters: Celtic's seeded play-off draw against LASK — described as the toughest possible outcome — gives Martin O'Neill's side a demanding route back to the Champions League group stage, while every other Scottish club's fate still hinges on winning a prior qualifying round, meaning six sides face high-stakes single-leg week to week through August.
