Celtic are just three matches into the new season, but already face arguably their biggest game of the campaign — and definitely the richest. After a humiliating exit to Kazakh minnows Kairat Almaty last year, the Hoops have the chance to bury those demons in a two-legged showdown with Austrian title winners LASK Linz.
The tie offers a place among Europe's elite plus the £40million windfall that comes with a spot at the top table. Martin O'Neill's men enter the first leg in scintillating form, following up a five-star showing at Kilmarnock with a 4-0 demolition of Dundee United on Saturday. But Celtic know European football is a completely different ballgame, and they face a LASK side desperate to reach the Champions League for the first time in their history.
O'Neill: Firepower can hurt LASK despite Engels blow
Martin O'Neill insists Celtic are in top shape for the crunch clash despite failing to replace Arne Engels. The Hoops boss has been frustrated in his bid for midfield reinforcements for the vital play-off first leg in Glasgow following the Belgian's £22million move to West Ham last weekend.
Twelve months ago, former gaffer Brendan Rodgers suggested after flopping against Kairat at this stage that the Parkhead club had conspired to 'manufacture your own stress' by failing to land key targets. This time Celts are chasing Torino's Gvidas Gineitis and Niko Sigur of Hajduk Split, but couldn't force any deals over the line before last night's Euro deadline. O'Neill is confident the recruits he did secure will give Celts enough firepower to blast into the group stage.
Who will win Celtic vs LASK? Predictions and team news
Celtic's last home European game was a night of misery — a 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart that eventually sent them crashing out of the Europa League amid fan protests. But fast forward six months and there is a much better feeling around the club. A couple of trophies has helped lift the mood, some decent transfer activity, and a perfect start to the season. Now it's time for the big one.
Arguably the biggest game of the season comes so early in the campaign with a Champions League play-off. They are usually nervy affairs and Wednesday's clash with Austrian champions LASK is unlikely to be any different. But Martin O'Neill and his men will fancy their chances against anyone under the lights in front of a packed Parkhead crowd.
O'Neill has one or two selection dilemmas to contend with. With Arne Engels gone, the question is who starts alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren in the middle of the park, and whether Sebastian Tounekti keeps his place on the left wing after an impressive showing at Tannadice on Saturday. Celtic might make two changes from the team that ran riot against Dundee United.
