LASK Linz completes miraculous comeback against Celtic in Champions League qualifier

In a dramatic Champions League qualifying match held on August 25, 2026, the Austrian side LASK Linz achieved a historic comeback against Scottish club Celtic. Despite losing the first leg 3-0, LASK managed to reverse the deficit in front of their home crowd. Although Celtic took an early 1-0 lead in the second leg, putting their aggregate lead at 4-0, LASK responded with a resilient performance. Ljubicic equalized at 48 minutes, followed by a goal from Aderinan in the 58th minute. Flecker eventually scored the crucial fourth goal in the 90th minute to force the match into extra time.

During extra time, LASK maintained their momentum, ultimately securing a 5-1 victory on the night and a 5-4 aggregate win. This result stunned Celtic and allowed the Austrian team to secure a place in the Champions League League Stage, while the Scottish side was eliminated from the competition. The draw for the next stage is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, which LASK will now enter as the qualified participant.