Celtic have put themselves on the brink of a return to the Champions League after a 3-0 home win over LASK in the first leg of their playoff clash, and the welcome mat is being rolled out across the globe.
Benjamin Nygren and Camilo Duran's double were worth goals to win any match and could have put the game beyond LASK before the second leg in Austria next week. However, Martin O'Neill will know that the visitors to a raucous Celtic Park carved out chances and will give the Scottish champions food for thought on their own turf. The veteran boss has declared that the tie is not over with a £40m jackpot awaiting in Europe's elite competition.
Austrian Media: LASK the 'Better Team' but Need a Miracle
Kurier (Austria) reported: "The question was whether LASK initially showed too much respect for their opponents and the 60,000 fans in attendance. The answer: No. Not at all. Exactly half a minute had been played when Usor scored after a pass from Adeniran. This displeased not only the Scottish fans but also referee Scharer, who disallowed the goal due to Usor's offside position."
Kurier added: "The only criticism one could level at the Austrian champions was their poor defensive positioning. Otherwise, everything clicked, including their attacking play. But one thing was missing – luck. Adeniran was again marginally offside in the 35th minute after a fine pass from Bello, and LASK's second goal was disallowed." Linz not only suffered their first competitive defeat of the season but also conceded three goals for the first time since March. They need history: in the spring of 1985, Rapid Vienna were the only Austrian team to turn a 0-3 first-leg deficit into a victory, defeating Dynamo Dresden 5-0 in the home leg.
Laola 1 (Austria) stated: "Linz were the better team, especially in the first half, yet only the Scots scored legitimate goals. LASK will need a minor miracle in the second leg. With the 3-0 victory, the Scottish record champions have an excellent starting position for the return leg."
German and Spanish Outlets: Celtic 'Masters' of European Competition
Kicker (Germany) reported: "Celtic put LASK in their place at Paradise. Austria's double winners LASK suffered a bitter 0-3 defeat at Celtic Park. The Athletiker had 18 shots on goal but failed to find the net, finding Celtic to be masters of European competition. For the Bhoys, Nygren and then Duran scored twice. LASK will need a spectacular performance in the return leg in Linz on Tuesday."
Marca (Spain) wrote: "Celtic, thanks to a brace from Camilo Durán and an early goal from Nygren, thrashed LASK 3-0, practically sealing the tie for the return leg in Austria."
Swedish and Colombian Praise for Nygren and Duran
ESPN (Colombia) noted: "Camilo Durán was the star of Celtic in the first leg of the fourth qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League where the Scottish team won by a score of 3-0 against LASK Linz. Celtic proved to be a far superior European side with their history at home and started winning in the 26th minute when Nygren opened the scoring with a great goal."
Fotboll Skanalen (Sweden) reported: "Benjamin Nygren had been in red-hot form during the start of the season with Celtic. Ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Austrian Lask Linz in the Champions League play-offs, the Swede had scored in three consecutive games. That number is now four games in a row. In the 26th minute, Nygren gave his team the lead with a delicious long-range shot. The LASK defence headed away a Celtic cross, which Nygren received on the edge of the penalty area, whereupon he fired a left-footed shot into the crossbar."
Sportbladet (Sweden) added: "Scottish champion Celtic has one leg left in the Champions League's league phase after a 3-0 home win against Austrian side LASK. The fans celebrated wildly after Benjamin Nygren's smash hit. None of them are surprised, as the Swede has shown that he is in top form after the World Cup. When the ball had just bounced out of the penalty area, Nygren got there with his left foot. With a rock-solid finish, he found the right crossbar."
