Benjamin Nygren of Celtic scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Martin O'Neill's side took a huge step towards the league phase with an impressive 3-0 victory at Celtic Park in the first leg of their play-off.
The result leaves Celtic firmly in control ahead of next week's return in Austria , with LASK requiring a remarkable turnaround to deny the Scottish champions a place in the competition proper.
However, Horvath is refusing to concede the tie.
The LASK skipper believes the scoreline was harsh on his side and insists they must take encouragement from the chances they created in Glasgow.
He said via Daily Record: "It was a very, very bitter defeat.
"The defeat was far heavier than it should have been and we should have scored a goal at least.
"Now in Linz, everything has to go right for us.
"We have to be tighter at the back, close down their spaces more quickly and convert the chances we missed in Glasgow.
"But we won't give up. We'll do everything we can to achieve the impossible.
"Of course, there's still hope. If Celtic can score three goals at their own stadium, we can do it at our home too."
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