Celtic blow 4-0 aggregate lead, lose 5-1 to LASK in Champions League qualifier

Celtic's players despair at the final whistle after exiting the Champions League to LASK. (Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

By Jessica Hopkins Aug. 25, 2026 | Updated Share article: 81

Celtic threw away a four-goal aggregate lead to be knocked out of the Champions League, losing 5-1 to Austrian side LASK on the night.

The Scottish side, who won the first leg in Glasgow 3-0, opened the scoring at Raiffeisen Arena to move clear in the tie. However, a defensive error handed LASK parity before half-time, and in the second half, they overwhelmed Martin O’Neill’s side.

• Goals from Robert Ljubicic, Samuel Adeniran, and a 91st-minute strike from substitute Florian Flecker saw the Austrian side draw level at 4-4 on aggregate, sending the tie to extra time.
• Houston-born Adeniran’s second goal completed the hosts’ remarkable turnaround.
• Adeniran could have added a hat-trick but saw his penalty saved in the 115th minute.

Regardless, the final whistle saw LASK prevail 5-4 on aggregate, ensuring no Scottish clubs will feature in the Champions League group stage for the second consecutive year.

American Samuel Adeniran scored his team’s fifth goal. (Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

Player Reaction

“We got what we deserved,” Celtic captain Callum McGregor, who scored his side’s only goal on Tuesday, told Amazon Prime after the match. “We were passive all night. We looked scared to go and win the game.

“I didn’t think we were that good in the first leg either. We scored at good times and got away with it. We have to suck it up. We apologise to our supporters and the club because there’s no way we should lose that game.

“It’s as much on the players as everyone else. You can’t look for excuses elsewhere. You’ll now see what people are made of.”

Celtic now drop into the Europa League.

Manager Reaction

O’Neill took responsibility for the defeat in the aftermath.

“They’re a good side, but that’s really disappointing,” he told reporters. “I’m responsible for the team, I’m the manager of the side. I’m incredibly disappointed. We know we’re a million miles from the finished article, but, going into the game 3-0 up and after scoring, we should have been out of sight.

“Momentum swings in a game and we weren’t able to stem it for a while. We seemed to have weathered the storm then they scored to take it to extra time. They’re a fine side, but that doesn’t matter. We should have been able to see it through. It’s a massive disappointment. I know we’re now playing in the Europa League, but that’s a scant consolation this evening.”

Context: A Turbulent Season

Despite a turbulent 2025-26 campaign — in which Brendan Rodgers resigned as head coach in October, and his successor Wilfried Nancy was sacked after only eight games in charge — Celtic revived under O’Neill and won their final nine matches across the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup to claim both trophies.

They overhauled Hearts, who had led the league table since September and were chasing a first league title since 1960, to claim their 14th league title in the last 15 seasons on the final day.

What You Should Read Next: Martin O’Neill appointed Celtic manager after title-winning interim spell The Northern Irishman had two interim Celtic stints in the 2025-26 season, following the exits of Brendan Rodgers and then Wilfried Nancy.