Celtic are eliminated from the Champions League qualifying play-offs after losing to Austrian side LASK 5-1 at the Raiffeisen Arena, overturning a four-goal aggregate advantage. Celtic win the first leg 3-0 last week, giving them a strong cushion for the second match.
In the return leg, LASK respond after Celtic take an early lead. Callum McGregor puts Celtic ahead on 22 minutes, but Celtic concede repeatedly and the tie swings dramatically. LASK win 5-1 after extra time, resulting in a 5-4 aggregate score in LASK’s favour.
All outlets describe the result as a major, unexpected collapse. Sky Sports and The Guardian focus on Celtic throwing away the aggregate lead, while The Independent highlights the final scoreline and the shock nature of the comeback. The Athletic includes a player reaction suggesting Celtic show fear during the turnaround, while still outlining the same match progression and outcome. With the defeat, Celtic miss out on a Champions League group-stage place and move to the Europa League.
