LASK Linz have secured a place in the UEFA Champions League after staging a stunning four-goal comeback against Celtic, completing one of the most dramatic playoff turnarounds in recent memory.

The Austrian club's remarkable recovery leaves Celtic — who had looked well-placed to advance — on the outside looking in, as LASK Linz prepare to make their Champions League debut.

New faces in the competition

LASK Linz are not the only first-timers heading to the group stage. Sabah of Azerbaijan, a club founded just nine years ago, have also earned a place among European football's elite for the first time in their short history.

The rapid rise of Sabah is a striking achievement for Azerbaijani football, which has rarely seen its clubs compete at the very top level of the continental game.

Bodo/Glimt return

Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who won admirers across the continent in their debut Champions League campaign, are back for a second consecutive season. The club from the Arctic Circle continue to be one of the competition's most celebrated smaller clubs, proving that their previous appearance was no fluke.

Together, LASK Linz, Sabah, and Bodo/Glimt represent a refreshing mix of returning romance and fresh ambition as the UEFA Champions League prepares to welcome its newest contestants.