Camilo Durán Double Gives Celtic 3-0 Playoff Lead Over Lask

Celtic moved within sight of the Champions League league phase with a 3-0 home victory over Lask in the first leg of their playoff in Glasgow. PA Media, reporting via The Guardian, said summer signing Camilo Durán scored twice after Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring, giving Martin O’Neill’s team a substantial advantage before the return fixture in Austria.

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Nygren broke the deadlock in the 26th minute after Kieran Tierney’s cross was not cleared decisively. The Sweden international adjusted to meet the loose ball from about 20 yards and volleyed it into the top corner. Twelve minutes later, Durán struck from a similar position, hitting a first-time volley into the same corner after another Tierney delivery was headed away.

The scoreline did not reflect a one-sided contest. Lask had two goals ruled out for offside and created several opportunities, beginning when Moses Usor found the net inside the opening 30 seconds before the flag was raised. Samuel Adeniran then shot wide when through on goal and later forced Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo into a save. Sinisalo made further stops before halftime as Celtic protected their advantage.

Celtic continued to threaten after the interval. Captain Callum McGregor saw a deflected 20-yard effort hit the inside of the post, while Usor missed two chances for the visitors. Durán then supplied Celtic’s third midway through the second half, combining with Nygren following a Kasper Høgh flick before guiding his finish into the top corner from inside the penalty area.

According to the report, Durán’s second goal was his third for Celtic since arriving from Qarabag. Nygren’s contribution continued a productive start to the season, taking him to four goals and four assists in four matches. Celtic also gave German midfielder Mika Baur his first start at Celtic Park after Arne Engels left for West Ham at the weekend.

The clean sheet completed an important night for a club that has failed to advance from Champions League qualifying in each of the past five campaigns. Celtic were eliminated at this playoff stage by Kairat Almaty last season. They now carry a three-goal cushion into the second leg in Linz next Tuesday, while Lask must overturn a deficit despite the chances they created in Glasgow.