‘Really exceptional’: O’Neill hails Durán as Celtic surge towards Champions League

Celtic’s Champions League playoff first leg against Lask ended in emphatic style at Celtic Park, with a 3-0 victory that leaves Martin O’Neill’s side on the brink of the group stages. The performance was built on clinical finishing, defensive resilience, and the impact of two summer signings who have already justified their arrivals. The visitors began brightly, pressing high and testing Vasilis Barkas with early efforts, but it was Celtic who struck first. Benjamin Nygren, continuing his prolific start to the season, opened the scoring in the 26th minute. The Swede adjusted his body to volley into the top corner from 20 yards after a weak clearance from Kieran Tierney’s cross. It was a moment of composure that underlined his value to the attack, arriving as he did after a £2.5m move from Gent and following his four-goal, four-assist haul in the opening four games of the campaign.

A night of two halves — and two goals

Twelve minutes later, Camilo Durán doubled the lead with a near-identical strike. After Tierney’s cross was headed out, Durán fired first time into the same top corner from the same distance. The Colombian’s movement and technique drew comparisons to his first-half effort, a sequence that exposed Lask’s defensive fragility and marked his third goal in as many Celtic appearances. Durán completed his double midway through the second half, combining with Nygren after a flick from Kasper Høgh before stroking the ball into the top corner from inside the box. The goal capped a dominant display and underscored the growing understanding between the new arrivals, with Høgh—signed from Nordsjælland for an undisclosed fee—providing the assist that encapsulated the new striker partnership’s potential.

O’Neill’s verdict: “Really exceptional”

Martin O’Neill reserved special praise for Durán, describing his performance as “really exceptional.” The manager highlighted the Colombian’s all-round contribution—goals, pressing, and defensive work—while placing his £4.5m arrival in context. “Whatever we paid for Durán, I think he has paid his ticket by now,” O’Neill said. “I don’t think it was an awful lot of money when you consider some of the fees that they’re talking about for the Premier League. I think he’s a real bargain.” He also pointed to Høgh’s presence as a missing piece since last season, contrasting it with Daizen Maeda’s league-winning impact. “It’s nice to have that,” O’Neill added, a nod to the squad’s newfound balance. The manager’s comments carried particular weight given Celtic’s playoff exit to Kairat Almaty last year, when the failure to sign a proven striker was cited as a key factor in their 3-2 aggregate defeat.

The victory eased concerns after last year’s playoff exit to Kairat Almaty, when Celtic failed to sign a proven striker. This time, the arrivals of Durán and Høgh have addressed that need, while other signings—despite delays—have slotted into the system. The German midfielder Mika Baur, handed a rare start against Lask, provided additional midfield steel, though his involvement underlined the ongoing squad-building challenges O’Neill has faced this summer.

What comes next: Linz and beyond

With a commanding 3-0 lead, Celtic head to Linz for the second leg next Tuesday knowing a draw will secure their place in the Champions League group stages. Lask’s two disallowed goals for offside and their failure to convert chances will weigh on their minds, but the Austrian side showed enough to suggest they will push hard in Austria. Their xG figures suggested they deserved more than their eventual haul, with Barkas making crucial saves to preserve Celtic’s clean sheet. The result also serves as a statement of intent after a summer of transfer uncertainty, with Durán and Høgh arriving late but making immediate impacts while other deals stalled.

The performances so far suggest O’Neill’s side are ready to compete at the highest level. Nygren’s four goals and four assists in four games underline his importance, while Durán’s arrival has given them a new cutting edge. For Celtic, the focus now shifts to maintaining this momentum. A place in the group stages would represent progress after last year’s disappointment, and the manager’s emphasis on Durán’s fitness—”if he stays clear of injury”—hints at the long-term value he sees in the Colombian. With the tie effectively over, the challenge will be to keep intensity high in Austria while avoiding complacency, ensuring the new partnership between Durán, Nygren, and Høgh has every chance to flourish in Europe’s premier competition.