Football
Football
Celtic to Clash with Austrian Champions LASK in Champions League Play-Offs
The draws for the play-off rounds of European club competitions have set the stage for several prominent teams, with Celtic learning they will face Austrian champions LASK for a spot in the Champions League league phase. The Scottish side, led by Martin O'Neill, will host the first leg of this crucial tie on August 18 or 19, with the return fixture scheduled for the following week, on August 25 or 26.
LASK, who secured their domestic title for the second time last season—their first since 1965—also qualified directly for the play-off round, mirroring Celtic’s path. The loser of this Champions League play-off will subsequently drop into the league phase of the Europa League.
Other Scottish clubs also learned their potential European routes. Rangers, if they overcome Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland, will meet either Northern Irish champions Larne or Iberia Tbilisi of Georgia in the Europa League play-offs. Hearts, having exited Champions League qualifying, will face AGF Aarhus of Denmark or Sabah of Azerbaijan should they advance in the Europa League. Should Hearts falter in the Europa League, they would then compete against Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia or Rapid Vienna of Austria in the Conference League play-offs.
Further down the line, Motherwell is slated to take on German Bundesliga side Freiburg if they defeat HJK Helsinki, while Hibernian would face IFK Gothenburg of Sweden or Gent of Belgium if they progress past Shkendija. Larne, if they lose their Europa League qualifier, will move into the Conference League play-offs to play Lincoln Red Imps or Omonia.
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