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Celtic drawn against LASK as other Scottish sides discover opponents
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Published
Celtic have been drawn against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round.
Meanwhile, Rangers will face either Northern Irish champions Larne or Iberia Tbilisi of Georgia in the Europa League play-offs should they defeat Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland.
And Heart of Midlothian, who dropped down to the Europa League after losing to Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying, will take on either AGF Aarhus of Denmark or Sabah of Azerbaijan should they defeat Benfica.
Should they lose, the Edinburgh side will face Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia or Rapid Vienna of Austria in the Conference League play-off round.
If Rangers lose in Europa League qualifying, they will meet Jablonec of Czech Republic or RFS of Latvia.
Motherwell will take on Freiburg of Germany should they defeat Finland’s HJK Helsinki.
Meanwhile, Hibernian will take on IFK Gothenburg of Sweden or Gent of Belgium if they oust Shkendija of Macedonia.
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Celtic are at home to LASK in the first leg on 18 and 19 August, with the return game the following week.
LASK won their domestic title for the second time last season – their first since 1965 – and, like Martin O’Neill’s side, qualified directly for the play-off round.
Given they could have faced Viking Stavanger, Celje, Ararat-Armenia, Kairat Almaty, Levski Sofia, AGF Aarhus or Sabah instead, it is probably the toughest draw Celtic could have been given.
Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side have a lower coefficient than Celje, but the Austrian league is ranked much higher than Slovenia’s.
Rangers will be at home for the first leg of their Europa League play-off on 20 August, as will Hearts should they defeat Benfica.
Both will also be at home on that date should they lose and play in the Conference League play-offs.
Motherwell will also have a home tie first should they progress, but Hibs’ first leg would be away from home.


