Celtic must overcome a tricky test against LASK Linz to secure a return to the Champions League and capitalising on home advantage in the first leg could be crucial. The Hoops missed out on featuring in Europe’s elite club competition last season after losing to Kairat on penalties following two goalless stalemates.
This term, they head into the play-offs with a couple of new in-form strikers and buoyed by a bright start to their domestic campaign. With Martin O’Neill expected to adopt a positive approach to Wednesday night’s clash, we like 11/8 for a home win and over 2.5 total goals for our initial Celtic vs LASK Linz prediction.
Betting Odds
Celtic vs LASK Betting Odds – Champions League 2026-27
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Celtic | 11/20 | 64.5% |
LASK | 4/1 | 20% |
Draw | 14/5 | 26.3% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Celtic are 11/20 favourites to beat LASK , who are 4/1 for the win, with the draw at 14/5.
How to Watch
How to watch Celtic vs LASK Linz
This first meeting between these sides is set to kick off at 20:00 BST and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 .
Form Guides
Celtic form guide
O’Neill’s return to the dugout sparked a dramatic title triumph and Scottish Cup success for Celtic last term, with a run of seven straight league wins helping them to overhaul Hearts . Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels have been significant departures, but incoming front men Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran have hit the ground running. After an opening 1-0 SPL victory versus Dundee , Hogh hit a hat-trick in a 5-1 romp at Kilmarnock and Duran got on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 4-0 League Cup triumph at Dundee United .
O’Neill likes what he has seen so far, stating: “I think we’ve got goalscorers in the side. That was always a concern last season. We conjured goals, and we won big games. But Daizen almost single-handedly took it upon himself to score the goals. Now I think that there are goals from different areas.” Hogh , who scored 53 goals in 102 appearances for Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt , including Champions League strikes against Manchester City , Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan last season, has already justified his £11million price tag.
“He’s linked up well,” said O’Neill . “He obviously wants to get into the penalty area, but he’s a very fine centre-forward. He’ll thrive on goals like any centre-forward.” The 25-year-old is sure to prove a popular pick at 7/2 to open the scoring in this contest.
LASK Linz form guide
LASK showed improved form to finish top of the Austrian Bundesliga table last term, finishing two points ahead of Sturm Graz , who Celtic beat 2-1 at Parkhead in the Europa League. After the arrival of Dietmar Kuhbauer in early October, they won 19 of their next 27 matches and have carried that momentum into the current campaign.
Following a 7-0 cup rout of Kalsdorf , LASK have beaten GAK 1902 , Austria Vienna and Ried in the league, with nine goals scored in those games. Last term’s top scorers Moses Usor and Samuel Adeniran have already netted six times between them and O’Neill is braced for a tough test.
“There is a really big task ahead,” he declared. “They’re a very fine side. They’re very, very strong.” The visitors will pose a threat going forward, but we feel the Hoops can take a lead to Austria , so a BOYLE Sports price boost of 5/2 for a home win and both teams to score completes our Celtic vs LASK Linz betting tips.
Betting Tips
Celtic vs LASK Betting Tips
Celtic & over 2.5 goals @ 11/8
Kasper Hogh first goalscorer @ 7/2
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