LASK Linz thrashed Celtic 5:1 in the UEFA Champions League play-offs at the Raiffeisen Arena on Monday evening, turning a previous defeat into a statement. The Austrians had gone to Glasgow and lost 3:0 just six days earlier, and here they came for a cross he never reached, then found their own rhythm. Celtic started brighter with Cameron McGregor's opener in the 21st minute, but the visitors found no answer once the hosts settled into their patterns.
By then the match had shifted. Martin Usor levelled in the 32nd minute, Robert Ljubičić put LASK ahead after the break in the 48th, and Samuel Adeniran made it 3:1 in the 58th. The visitors' keeper made three saves but could not stop the flow, while LASK's attack created ten big chances against Celtic's single opportunity. And here's the thing — Celtic had 52 per cent possession but shot accuracy of 38 per cent yielded only three shots on target.
The statistics tell a story of wasted possession. Celtic completed 544 passes against LASK's 465, yet the hosts registered 4.81 expected goals to the visitors' 0.54. LASK crossed 48 times with 13 successful, while Celtic managed just three from 17 attempts. The away side cleared 73 balls compared to LASK's 26, suggesting they spent more time defending than building anything meaningful.
Substitutions came thick and fast after the hour mark. LASK brought on B. Nygren and Yang Hyun-Jun for their attackers in the 63rd minute, while Celtic responded with Kieran Tierney and Mika Baur. The game stretched into extra time, where Adeniran scored his second in the 109th minute and then missed a penalty in the 115th — a cruel twist for a player who had been LASK's most dangerous outlet.
Flecker added a fourth in the 90th minute before the match ran on. LASK finished with 18 shots off target and 8 on, while Celtic managed just 3 off and 3 on. The result means the Austrians advance from the play-offs, having turned a heavy defeat into a comprehensive victory that will make life awkward for Celtic in any future encounter.
