Key Points
- Three Changes Made: Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has made three tactical alterations to the starting line-up following last weekend’s 4-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Dundee United.
- Squad Rotations: Kieran Tierney, Mika Baur, and Yang Hyun-jun come into the starting XI, replacing Liam Scales, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Sebastian Tounekti.
- Full Debut Handed: Germany Under-21 international midfielder Mika Baur is handed his full competitive debut for the Scottish Champions.
- European Stakes: A lucrative £40 million group stage jackpot is on the line as Celtic host Austrian Bundesliga champions LASK at Celtic Park for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off tie.
- Managerial Context: Martin O’Neill returns to lead the side in Europe following a minor hospital procedure earlier in the month, targeting Celtic’s return to Europe’s premier competition.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 19, 2026 — Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has officially confirmed his starting eleven for the critical UEFA Champions League play-off first-leg tie against Austrian champions LASK at Celtic Park this evening, electing to make three adjustments to the side that secured a 4-0 win at Tannadice over Dundee United last weekend.
As reported by Matthew Fulton of The National, Kieran Tierney, Mika Baur, and Yang Hyun-jun have been drafted into the team, replacing defender Liam Scales, experienced midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and winger Sebastian Tounekti.
The decision to hand summer acquisition Mika Baur his full competitive debut marks a notable midfield rotation. The Germany Under-21 international joins club captain Callum McGregor and Swedish attacking midfielder Benjamin Nygren in a restructured central setup. In defense, full-back Kieran Tierney returns to the starting line-up after being rested during the domestic cup fixture, forming a back four alongside Colby Donovan, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Auston Trusty ahead of goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.
In the forward positions, South Korean winger Yang Hyun-jun returns to the flank opposite Camilo Durán, supporting central striker Kasper Høgh.
The bench features a full selection of options, including Liam Scales, Reo Hatate, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Luke McCowan, and summer signing Haissem Hassan.
What team selections did Martin O’Neill make for Celtic against LASK?
As documented by the sports reporting staff at TNT Sports, Celtic’s confirmed starting team and substitutes for the play-off first leg are arranged as follows:
- Celtic XI: Viljami Sinisalo (GK); Colby Donovan, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney; Callum McGregor, Mika Baur, Benjamin Nygren; Yang Hyun-jun, Kasper Høgh, Camilo Durán.
- Substitutes: Ross Doohan (GK), Liam Scales, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Luke McCowan, Sebastian Tounekti, Callum Osmand, Haissem Hassan, Johnny Kenny, Reo Hatate, Dane Murray, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston.
As reported by OneFootball, opponent head coach Dietmar Kühbauer named his LASK starting line-up to contest the tie in a 3-5-2 structure:
- LASK XI: Lukas Jungwirth (GK); Xavier Mbuyamba, Alemão, Andrés Andrade; Kasper Jørgensen, Kryštof Daněk, Robert Ljubičić, Sascha Horvath, George Bello; Samuel Adeniran, Moses Usor.
- Substitutes: Tobias Schützenauer (GK), Fabian Schillinger (GK), Miguel Freckleton, Art Smakaj, Melayro Bogarde, Alessandro Schöpf, Manoel Verhaeghe, Yvan Dibango, Christoph Lang, Florian Flecker.
How did Martin O’Neill explain the tactical preparation for the European fixture?
As reported by the uk/sports/celtic-fc/">Celtic FC Official Website, manager Martin O’Neill addressed the physical and technical demands posed by the Austrian Bundesliga champions during his pre-match press conference at Lennoxtown:
“These matches are difficult for us. I’ve had a strong look at the team that we’re playing against. They’re really good players. They’re very fast and they’re very strong, they’re athletic and they are big. So, we have our work cut out over the two games.
“Confidence is a major part of the game. It’s something that if you start to win football matches, it gives you great confidence. We’re just trying to look forward to the games, trying to get a result in the matches and try and get through.”
As detailed by Lawrence Ostlere of The Independent, O’Neill also reflected upon the broader context of Celtic’s European qualifying trajectory, noting the competitive nature of the tie after Celtic secured a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season following a title race decided on the final day against Hearts. O’Neill returned to the club’s technical area following a brief absence due to a small hospital procedure earlier in the month.
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Background of the particular development
Celtic entered the 2026/27 European qualification stage aiming to secure a place in the newly structured UEFA Champions League group phase, which guarantees a participating club an estimated £40 million in revenue. Following an opening-day Scottish Premiership 1-0 win over Dundee—decided by a second-half Benjamin Nygren header—Celtic maintained form with a 4-0 win against Dundee United in the Premier Sports Cup.
Last season, Celtic failed to navigate the Champions League qualifying rounds after incurring a penalty shootout defeat against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty. The current fixture against LASK represents the final hurdle in the play-off round.
LASK qualified for the play-off stage as Austrian Bundesliga champions, having claimed their first domestic league title since 1965 and opening their domestic season with four consecutive victories across cup and league competitions.
Prediction: How this development can affect Celtic and its stakeholders
The team selection made by Martin O’Neill carries direct implications for Celtic’s short-term athletic trajectory and multi-million pound financial standing:
- Impact on the First-Team Squad: Integrating summer signing Mika Baur into a three-man central midfield alongside Callum McGregor in high-stakes European action establishes a new tactical dynamic. Successful performance will offer squad depth for a congested autumn calendar, whereas any midfield disconnect could leave defenders exposed to LASK’s counter-attacking transitions.
- Impact on Club Finances & Operations: Securing a positive home result in the first leg is essential to advancing toward the £40 million Champions League windfall. Reaching the main stage drastically increases operational budgets, enhancing Celtic’s capacity to recruit top-tier talent before the close of the summer transfer window.
- Impact on the Supporters and Broad Community: For the Celtic fanbase, returning to Europe’s elite tier represents the benchmark of European progression under Martin O’Neill. A strong home performance reinforces momentum and supporter optimism following last season’s European qualification setback.
