Celtic moved firmly into the driving seat in their UEFA Champions League play-off after a commanding 3-0 first-leg victory over LASK at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening.

Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring before Colombian striker Camilo Duran netted twice, giving manager Martin O'Neill's side a commanding cushion ahead of the second leg in Linz next Tuesday.

A rocky beginning

The night could scarcely have begun more awkwardly for the Hoops. Barely seconds after kick-off, Moses Usor drove into the net — only for the offside flag to spare Celtic's blushes. Samuel Adeniran then raced clear of Cameron Carter-Vickers and dragged a shot wide, underscoring LASK's early ambition.

The Austrian champions, chasing a first-ever appearance in Europe's elite competition, carried genuine menace throughout — a fact underlined when Adeniran also had a 35th-minute header ruled out for offside.

Nygren and Duran take over

Celtic gradually asserted themselves, and the opener arrived in the 27th minute. Kieran Tierney's delivery picked out Nygren, who curled a first-time effort into the top right corner with real precision.

Duran then doubled the lead on 38 minutes. LASK partially cleared Tierney's cross, but the ball dropped to the Colombian outside the penalty area and he smashed it into the net for his first goal at Celtic Park.

Better was to come. In the 67th minute, a sweeping Celtic counterattack culminated in Duran combining with Kasper Hogh before sidefooting calmly into the far corner. Between them, Duran and Hogh — two of Celtic's most high-profile summer arrivals — scored 10 Champions League goals last season, and they are already demonstrating that quality in green and white.

LASK remain dangerous

Despite falling three behind, LASK refused to retreat. Usor was denied by goalkeeper Sinisalo from point-blank range in the 62nd minute, and Adeniran continued to test the Celtic defence on 76 minutes. The Austrian side will need to eliminate that profligacy in front of goal if they are to mount a comeback in the second leg.

Celtic, for their part, will be cautious. They were knocked out at this very stage 12 months ago, and O'Neill will demand the same intensity when the sides reconvene in Linz on Tuesday.