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Celtic learn their Champions League opponents as draw is confirmed

Published 12:25 3 Aug 2026 BST

Updated 12:25 3 Aug 2026 BST

sammi.minion@joemediagroup.co.uk
Celtic learn their Champions League opponents as draw is confirmed

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The draw has been made.

Scottish champions Celtic have learned the club they will face in their opening play-off round of the 2026/27 Champions League campaign.

The Glasgow club secured a place in this season's UCL in dramatic fashion last season.

Having trailed rivals Hearts for almost the entire campaign, Martin O'Neill's side faced the Edinburgh outfit on the final day, and secured a dramatic victory that denied Hearts the opportunity of becoming the first side outside Scotland's traditional big two to win a title in four decades.

Alongside title glory, Celtic's win also secured them the more favourable Champions League route, with Hearts instead facing a longer path through the competition's second qualifying round after finishing runners-up.

Now as the Scottish champions begin preparations for the upcoming season, they have been informed of the European side they will face.

Celtic were drawn up against LASK, the champions of Austria.

LASK are making their return to the Champions League for the first time in decades, after securing a brilliant title win last season, the club's first since 1965.

The draw was described in a report from BBC Sport as "probably the toughest draw" Martin O'Neill's side could have been given.

Full Champions League play-off draw:

Levski Sofia / Kairat Almaty v AEK Athens

Celtic v LASK

GNK Dinamo / Kauno Žalgiris v Viking

Mjällby / S. Bratislava v Ararat-Armenia / Celje

H. Beer-Sheva / Crvena Zvezda v Aarhus / Sabah

Fenerbahçe / Sturm Graz v Sparta Praha / Lyon

Olympiacos / N.E.C. v Union SG / Bodø/Glimt

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