Celtic's hopes of advancing in the Champions League were dashed in a dramatic fashion as they squandered a commanding four-goal aggregate lead, ultimately losing 5-1 to Lask in Austria. The Scottish champions initially looked set to secure their place in the league stage when Callum McGregor scored a deflected goal in the 21st minute, putting them ahead 4-0 on aggregate.

However, the match took a turn for the worse for Celtic as Lask clawed their way back into the contest. Moses Usor capitalized on a defensive error from Benjamin Nygren, leveling the score in the 32nd minute. The momentum shifted further in the second half, with Robert Ljubicic and Samuel Adeniran scoring stunning long-range goals, leaving Celtic reeling.

Despite their early dominance, Celtic struggled to maintain their attacking prowess and found themselves on the back foot as Lask continued to apply pressure. The Austrian side equalized the tie in stoppage time, forcing the match into extra time. In the additional period, Adeniran delivered the final blow, scoring from outside the box to seal Celtic's fate and send them crashing out of the tournament.

This defeat represents a significant setback for Celtic, who faced similar disappointment the previous season when they exited on penalties at the playoff stage. Fans are now left questioning management decisions, particularly the sale of Arne Engels before the first leg, which may have contributed to their inability to control the midfield.

With this loss, Celtic will now shift their focus to the Europa League, hoping to regroup and find success in the upcoming season.