Celtic throw away a 4-0 aggregate lead and lose 5-4 at LASK to miss out on the Champions League league phase for the second year in a row.
A night to forget for the Scottish giants in Austria, dumped out of the Champions League despite taking the lead on the night through Callum McGregor to go four up on aggregate, and it could have been more.
But LASK scored five times to deny them a place in Thursday’s draw, with Celtic now having to play Europa League.
Devastated #CelticFC players can barely look at the away end after a five goal implosion in Austria.
It’s Europa League football again for Celtic. LASK deservedly head into the #UCL. pic.twitter.com/4qUcgPcPhu
— Ryan McDonald (@rmcd93) August 25, 2026
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill speaking with Amazon Prime:
“We should’ve been out of sight by half-time. We missed two great opportunities and then we gave them a lifeline right before half-time and then another one just after it. They came roaring back. That’s my team, that’s my responsibility.
“At half-time I thought we were still well in command of the game. Just after they score and then momentum goes in their direction. It’s hard to stem it when they’re chasing the game and we can’t get out for 10 minutes.
“These are tough games. This might have been a qualification game but it felt like a Champions League game. That doesn’t matter. Talking about the squad is for another day.
“It’s a massive disappointment. We’re playing in the Europa League but that’s no consolation this evening. There was a feel good factor and that’s a massive disappointment tonight.”
“Without a doubt” up there with one of Martin O’Neill’s worst performances on the touchline. pic.twitter.com/Y8ctzF7l81
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 25, 2026
Celtic’s Callum McGregor said to Amazon Prime:
“We got what we deserved. I thought we were passive all night. We actually looked scared to go and win the game.
“To be honest, I don’t think we were that good in the first leg either and we kind of got away with it. But then you’re up 3-0 and think you have a chance. When you play like that, you can’t have any excuse whatsoever.
“We have to suck it up. We apologise to the supporters and to the club because there’s no way we should lose that game. Now we have to see what character we have.
“You can’t lose the game by such a big margin and look for excuses elsewhere. This is where we see what people are made of in terms of what we achieve this season.”
Mark Wilson said via Sky Sports News: “Well, a quite remarkable evening for Celtic. An eye opener for them and Scottish football to take a three-goal advantage into this second leg. All started so well. Callum McGregor’s goal put them ahead 20 minutes in and it looked like job done. 4-0 up. They created other chances. It could have been five, six even.
“And then they let LASK in. And they go in at half time 1-1. And the second half took a turn for the worse. Celtic concede a goal in a couple of minutes and they looked spooked at that point on. Another was to follow another five or six minutes later and then they were really up against it.
Injuries to both full backs meant that Martin O’Neill had to finish the game with four centre backs on and it was a case of hanging out. Could they do it? No, they couldn’t. Last kept pressing. 40 shots in go on goal over the period of
“90 minutes and extra time is quite remarkable. And of course they nicked the goal that they needed to take to extra time in the 90th minute. The first half extra time Celtic looked the stronger side regained composure.
“The second half extra time last picked up for where they left off in the second period a normal time and got the goal that would eventually win it. They still had time to miss a penalty and Celtic crash out 5-1 on the night 54 and a aggregate. A remarkable score line having been 4-0 up and questions for Celtic and Martin and Neil and his team.
“A huge disappointing night for Scottish football and once again no representatives in the Champions League for Scottish sides.”
GOAL! LASK come back from 4-0 down to take a 5-4 lead on aggregate lead over Celtic in extra time 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jshwMjKQ3H
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 25, 2026
🗣️ “A remarkable scoreline, having been 4-0 up. Questions for Celtic and Martin O’Neill.”
Mark Wilson on Celtic’s Champions League exit after giving up a 4-0 aggregate lead to lose 5-4 against LASK in their play-off ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/sQDI280bW2
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 25, 2026
Here’s how fans reacted after Celtic throw away 4-0 aggregate lead and lose 5-4 at LASK to miss out on the Champions League league phase…
@Jack67cfc: Hang your heads in shame, without doubt the worst result in our history.
@blackybhoy67: Luke McCowan should refund the fans all there season book money and ticket money and travel money
@adz0712: The worst result in Scottish European history. You absolute fucking clowns 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@cfc1888_: You can shove the Europa league up yer arse. Won’t be buying fuck all tickets. O’Neill and Maloney have to answer for that, one of the most embarrassing results in Europe for Scottish football
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