Celtic took a commanding 3-0 lead over LASK in their Champions League play-off first leg at a raucous Celtic Park, with Camilo Duran's brace and a stunning team goal putting them firmly in control of the tie.
The Colombian forward, signed for a fee reported to be between £4.5m and £6m, opened his account with a fine volley after relentless pressure on the LASK defence before adding a second in the 72nd minute that capped off a mesmerising 30-second passing move. That third goal began with goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, travelled through Colby Donovan and Auston Trusty in defence, and was worked through midfield via a slick one-two between Benjamin Nygren and Duran before the Colombian finished emphatically into the top corner.
Swedish forward Nygren, who set the tone for the win with an earlier goal, continued his impressive scoring form, netting his fourth of the season to go with three assists, following on from 21 goals and 10 assists last term. Captain Callum McGregor was singled out for his role in driving Celtic forward throughout, while teenage right-back Donovan impressed on his side of the pitch, drawing praise from opposition boss Martin O'Neill for his "big, big heart" and "boundless enthusiasm."
Despite the scoreline, LASK were far from passive visitors. The Austrian champions and cup winners created numerous chances of their own, a reminder that O'Neill's side, who will host the second leg, are unlikely to surrender the tie without a fight. O'Neill struck a cautious tone afterward, insisting the tie was far from over while also acknowledging his side's positive account in the transfer market this season, saying, "We're on the plus-side in terms of money."
That comment reflects Celtic's approach to squad building this season, having brought in Duran along with Kasper Hogh, who arrived for around £11m and provided a physical presence up front even without finding the net on the night. The Scottish champions have spent close to £30m in total, but the outlay has largely been offset by sales, including Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda, meaning Celtic's business has left them in an overall net profit.
Wednesday's performance marked a striking contrast to Celtic's Champions League fortunes 12 months prior, when they were eliminated by Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty following a penalty shootout in which Celtic missed three of their five spot-kicks after 210 goalless minutes across two legs and extra time. That exit, under then-manager Brendan Rodgers, prompted criticism of both the playing squad and the club's transfer strategy at boardroom level.
This time, Celtic's attacking talent and squad depth appear to be paying dividends, with the club now on course to secure a place among Europe's elite once more, along with the financial rewards that come with it — reportedly around £40m should they see out the tie against LASK.
With Champions League qualification now firmly in sight, attention is turning to how ambitious Celtic will be if the financial windfall materializes. Areas identified for potential reinforcement include goalkeeping depth, cover at left-back and centre-back, and additions in central midfield, both defensively and in a more creative role. Domestically, Celtic's resources are already considered more than sufficient to challenge for domestic honours, but it is on the European stage where the Scottish champions are expected to prove their growing ambitions.
For now, though, Celtic supporters can savor a rare and emphatic European night, one that has quickly shifted the mood around the club from recent frustration to renewed optimism as they stand on the verge of a much-anticipated Champions League return.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.