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Celtic secured their place in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase following a tense second leg against LASK at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz.
The Scottish club travelled to Austria holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg played on August 19 at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Benjamin Nygren had opened the scoring in the first leg, with Camilo Durán adding two more goals to give Celtic a formidable cushion heading into the return fixture.
LASK had their moments in the first leg, with two goals ruled out for offside during the opening exchanges, hinting at the threat they could still pose.
LASK coach Dietmar Kühbauer promised an aggressive approach as his Austrian champions looked to stage a remarkable comeback and overturn the deficit.
Celtic were aiming to reach the Champions League proper for the fourteenth time, and for the first time through qualifying since the 2017/18 season.
The Austrian side had never previously reached the Champions League proper and entered the second leg winless in their last eleven UEFA matches.
Celtic were also dealing with their own unwanted record, having failed to win in six previous away matches against Austrian opposition across all European competition.
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was suspended for both legs, while right-back Alistair Johnston had missed the first match entirely due to a hamstring injury.
For LASK, Ramiz Harakate remained sidelined by a long-term knee injury, and Samuel Adeniran alongside Moses Usor were again expected to spearhead the home attack.
The second leg proved far from straightforward, with LASK reducing the aggregate deficit to make the score 3-1 on aggregate at one point during the contest.
The live score at the Raiffeisen Arena reached LASK 3-1 Celtic, creating a nervy atmosphere as the home side threatened to drag Celtic back into a contest they had appeared to have sealed.
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo produced a fine diving stop to deny LASK a fourth goal that would have levelled the aggregate score and potentially forced extra time.
Celtic manager responded by making crucial substitutions, with Sebastián Tounekti and Reo Hatate entering the field while Yang Hyun-Jun and Benjamin Nygren were withdrawn from the action.
The changes helped Celtic manage the closing stages and ultimately see out the tie, booking their place in the elite competition despite a spirited LASK fightback in Linz.
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