Celtic deficiencies laid bare on another night of Champions League pain

What the report says

Celtic’s Champions League tie with LASK ended in a major setback for the Scottish club, who surrendered a 4-0 first-leg lead and were knocked out after a collapse in Austria. BBC Sport’s Tom English said captain Callum McGregor described his teammates as “passive” and “scared” after the match, reflecting the mood around a damaging defeat that followed a strong opening in Glasgow.

The report said Celtic scored first in Linz through McGregor and still led 4-0 on aggregate, but defensive mistakes and a loss of control allowed LASK back into the contest. A poor pass led to the first equaliser, and Celtic then conceded again early in the second half as the hosts pressed with greater physicality and belief. BBC Sport said Celtic failed to register a shot on target in the second half or extra time.

The article portrayed the result as another painful addition to Celtic’s recent European record, with manager Martin O’Neill taking responsibility after the game. It also raised wider questions about the squad’s depth and balance, suggesting the club lacked a natural deputy at left-back and a stronger physical presence in midfield. As a consequence, Celtic will drop into the Europa League, and the defeat is likely to intensify scrutiny over the club’s transfer planning and European progress.