Overview
- UEFA's draw on Monday paired Celtic with LASK in the Champions League Champions Path play-off, with the first leg at Celtic Park on August 19 and the return in Linz on August 25.
- Clubs must submit play-off squad lists by August 13 and may register a maximum of two late signings by 23:00 on August 18, which limits how much new business can be reflected in the tie-day squad.
- Progression to the Champions League league phase brings large commercial and broadcast income commonly reported around £40m while the play-off loser drops into the Europa League league phase.
- Celtic face urgent recruitment pressure after many departures and only two summer arrivals were confirmed, leaving the manager short in several positions with little time before UEFA deadlines.
- Other Scottish clubs learned conditional Europa League and Conference League routes in the same draw, with teams such as Rangers and Hearts’ European paths depending on their coming third-round ties.