LASK will face Celtic for a place in the league phase. Sturm Graz would first have to get past Fenerbahçe and would then meet either Sparta Prague or Lyon. Another section of the draw also guarantees that at least one clear outsider will make it into the Champions League.
All possible play-off ties at a glance
The play-off pairings are:
- Levski Sofia/Kairat Almaty – AEK Athens
- Celtic – LASK
- GNK Dinamo/Kauno Žalgiris – Viking
- Mjällby/Slovan Bratislava – Ararat-Armenia/Celje
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva/Crvena Zvezda – Aarhus/Sabah
- Fenerbahçe/Sturm Graz – Sparta Prague/Lyon
- Olympiacos/NEC Nijmegen – Union Saint-Gilloise/Bodø/Glimt
The first legs will be played on 18 and 19 August, with the return legs following on 25 and 26 August. The winners will advance to the league phase of the Champions League. The losers will not drop out of Europe entirely, but will instead enter the league phase of the Europa League.
LASK draw the big one
For LASK, Celtic are a difficult but also highly attractive opponent. The Scottish champions are one of the biggest names at this stage, with major international history, a large stadium and a famously intense home atmosphere. According to the current bracket, the first leg is expected to take place in Glasgow, with the return leg in Linz. For the Upper Austrians, that means they will likely have to survive at Celtic Park immediately in order to keep a realistic chance alive for the second leg.
Celtic go into the tie as favourites. The Scottish champions are used to these kinds of qualifying matches and have far more European experience than LASK. Anything other than qualification for the league phase would be a major disappointment for the traditional club. At the same time, it is not a draw in which the Linz side are without a chance. Especially in a knockout tie over 180 minutes, LASK can be awkward opponents with compactness, speed in transition and high intensity.
The key will be not to fall behind heavily early in Glasgow. Celtic are likely to start with a lot of pressure at home, look for crosses and set pieces, and feed off the additional energy from the crowd.
If LASK manage to keep the tie open, the return leg in Upper Austria could become one of the biggest matches in the club’s recent history. Progression would mean a first-ever appearance in the Champions League. Defeat would be painful, but would at least still bring a place in the Europa League league phase. For that reason alone, LASK are already in a comfortable European position.
Sturm face a brutal route
Sturm Graz’s path looks even tougher. The Graz side first have to get past Fenerbahçe in the third qualifying round. That tie alone is a real test: away in Istanbul, against a Turkish top club with enormous individual quality and an atmosphere that can be a major factor, especially in European matches.
If Sturm clear that hurdle, things would not get any easier in the play-off. The winner of Sparta Prague against Lyon would be waiting. Both clubs would be demanding opponents, albeit in different ways. Sparta stand for physicality, clear structures and regularly intimidating home matches. Lyon have greater international prestige and more individual quality, and have also strengthened recently with some interesting new players – above all Belgian international Lois Openda from Juventus.
For Sturm, reaching the play-off would nevertheless be further proof of how stable the club has become in a European context. After their clear progression against Hearts, the team have already started qualifying well. Against Fenerbahçe, however, an entirely different level will be required. From Sturm’s perspective, the positive aspect is that even failure on this route would not mean the end of their European season. Via this path, Sturm have at least the Europa League as a safety net – the possible play-off opponent there will be drawn at 1 p.m.
An outsider will make it
The tie involving Mjällby or Slovan Bratislava against Ararat-Armenia or Celje is also particularly interesting. This section guarantees that a club will reach the Champions League league phase that very few would have expected to see on this stage before the season. Slovan Bratislava may bring the most European experience, but the mere possibility that Mjällby, Ararat-Armenia or Celje are only two rounds away from the top competition shows the appeal of this qualifying system.
For the Champions League, it means additional variety. For the clubs involved, it is about sporting history and, financially, about sums that can change entire club years. While LASK and Sturm are hoping for major European nights, another section of the draw could produce one of the most remarkable qualifying stories of the season.
