Celtic blow four-goal aggregate lead to LASK and miss out on £40m Champions League windfall

Celtic have been dumped out of Champions League qualifying by LASK after one of the most extraordinary collapses in the club’s recent European history, a result that strips them of an estimated £40 million and drops them into the Europa League for the coming season.

Brendan Rodgers’ side arrived in Linz holding a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg at Parkhead and appeared to have killed the tie entirely when Callum McGregor extended the aggregate advantage to 4-0 with a 22nd-minute goal. What followed was a stunning reversal. LASK scored twice before half-time and added a third just before the hour, and substitute Florian Flecker levelled on aggregate in the 90th minute to force extra time.

Celtic appeared to be holding on for a penalty shootout when Luke McCowan was dispossessed on the edge of his own box, allowing LASK striker Samuel Adeniran to convert what proved the decisive goal. Adeniran missed a penalty six minutes later, but Celtic could not find an equaliser and were eliminated.

The financial consequences are severe. Celtic had been in line for a £40 million windfall from Champions League group-stage participation — prize money, broadcast distributions and matchday revenue combined — and will now receive less than a quarter of that figure through the Europa League.

The defeat is also expected to affect Celtic’s transfer activity. Former Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, commentating on the match, noted that certain transfer targets may have only been willing to move to Glasgow on the basis of Champions League football being on offer.

Celtic captain McGregor did not spare himself or his teammates in his post-match assessment. “We got what we deserved,” the 33-year-old said. “We were passive all night. We looked scared to go and win the game. I didn’t think we were that good in the first leg either — we scored at good times and got away with it. We have to suck it up. We apologise to our supporters and the club because there’s no way we should lose that game. It’s as much on the players as everyone else. You can’t look for excuses elsewhere.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also accepted responsibility. “We should have the game out of sight,” he said. “We missed some glorious chances and we gave them a lifeline just before half-time.”