Celtic hold 3-0 lead as they visit Lask Linz in Champions League play-off return
Celtic head to the Raiffeisen Arena on 25 August holding a commanding advantage in their Champions League play-off tie with Lask Linz, having won the first leg 3-0 on 19 August. The return fixture, kicking off at 19:00 UTC, gives the Austrian side a steep task if they are to overturn the deficit and reach the group stage.
Form lines tell contrasting stories
Celtic arrive unbeaten in their last four matches, all victories, continuing the momentum built through the opening weeks of the domestic season. Lask Linz have also won four of their last five outings, though a defeat in that run means their recent record is not quite as spotless as their opponents'.
Both clubs, then, go into the second leg on the back of strong recent form, with four wins apiece in their last five matches. That parity in results elsewhere offers Lask Linz some encouragement, even if the scoreline from the first meeting looms large over the tie.
A three-goal cushion to defend
Celtic's 3-0 win in the first leg leaves them needing only to avoid a heavy reversal in Linz to progress. For Lask Linz, the equation is stark: a comeback of that magnitude would require a significant improvement on the display that saw them beaten comfortably on home soil for Celtic just days earlier.
The tie represents a major test for Lask Linz's European ambitions this season, while Celtic will be eager to close it out and secure their place in the Champions League proper.