Celtic’s Champions League Collapse: A Timeline of the LASK Disaster

Celtic’s Champions League hopes were shattered in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night as they squandered a 4-0 aggregate lead to lose 5-4 to LASK after extra time in Austria. The defeat, which echoes last season’s disastrous exit to Kairat Almaty at the same stage, has left fans and pundits questioning the team’s resilience.

Here’s how the nightmare unfolded.

A dream start turns sour

Celtic began the match in control. After 21 minutes, captain Callum McGregor scored to put the Scottish champions 4-0 up on aggregate, sparking celebrations among the traveling support. The tie appeared all but over.

However, LASK had already created chances, and the warning signs were ignored. Moses Usor capitalized on a defensive error to pull one back for the hosts before half-time, giving the Austrian side a foothold.

The collapse accelerates

The second half saw Celtic’s fragility exposed. Robert Ljubicic equalized on the night, and Samuel Adeniran scored a stunning long-range strike to make it 3-1 on the night. Suddenly, LASK were just one goal away from leveling the tie.

Celtic had no answer to LASK’s high press and physical dominance. The visitors were pinned back, unable to retain possession or create chances.

Dramatic late equalizer and extra time

As the match entered stoppage time, Celtic were clinging on. A close-range header from Florian Flecker in the 94th minute leveled the aggregate score, forcing extra time. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon described the team as “exhausted” and “fragile in duels.”

In extra time, Adeniran scored again to complete the turnaround, sealing a 5-4 aggregate victory for LASK. A late penalty save by Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was little consolation.

Key facts
| Event | Detail |
|—|—|
| Aggregate score | LASK 5-4 Celtic |
| Celtic’s early lead | 4-0 aggregate after 21 minutes |
| Key LASK scorer | Samuel Adeniran (2 goals) |
| Previous similar collapse | 2025 loss to Kairat Almaty |

Why it matters

For Celtic, this defeat means missing out on Champions League group-stage revenue and prestige. It also raises serious questions about the squad’s mentality and ability to handle pressure in big European ties. The parallels to last season’s loss to Kairat Almaty suggest a recurring issue that manager Brendan Rodgers must address. For fans, it is a painful reminder of the gap between Scottish domestic dominance and European competition.

Source: BBC Sport Football – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crerjz8814qo

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