O'Neill: 'World-class' Duran the difference in thumping win over LASK

Martin O'Neill described Camilo Duran's display in Celtic's 3-0 win over LASK as "world-class" as his two goals edged Celtic closer to a return to the Champions League. 

O'Neill watched on as his team ran riot at Celtic Park, with Benjamin Nygren's stunning left-footed finish picking out the top-right corner in the 26th minute. 

Duran doubled Celtic's lead seven minutes before half-time with an equally sublime finish, with the Colombian crashing a fierce volley past Lukas Jungwirth from 20 yards out. 

But it got even better for the hosts in the 67th minute when Duran rounded off a free-flowing team move with a side-footed shot that nestled into the roof of the net. 

The result gives Celtic a commanding lead heading into next week's second leg of this Champions League play-off, with O'Neill's men on the verge of returning to Europe's top table for the first time since 2024-25, having lost in the play-offs last season. 

O'Neill, however, took the time to applaud summer signing Duran, who has hit the ground running since joining Celtic from Qarabag. He led all Celtic players for shots (six), touches in the opposition box (five) and dribbles (six). 

"I thought it was a really tough evening for us. They are a really good side. We've got our work cut out, but we've given ourselves a chance," O'Neill told TNT Sports. 

"They scored a goal in the first minute, offside, and it took us 10-15 minutes to get into our stride.

"[Camilo Duran's] a brilliant player. We spotted him way back some time ago and tried to get him earlier than we did.

"I'm not saying he was a world-class player, but that was a world-class performance, taking people on and getting back.

"It was a great result for us tonight, but there is a long way to go.

"Last season, for most of it, you were wondering where a goal might come from. Here, we are able to conjure goals. Keeping a clean sheet was very important for us as well."

Celtic will now go to Austria and hope to avoid a complete collapse, a year on from losing to Kairat Almaty on penalties following back-to-back goalless draws. 

And O'Neill will be wary of the threat LASK possess. Despite winning 3-0, Celtic finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.87 from their 17 shots compared to LASK's tally of 1.75 from their 20 attempts at Viljami Sinisalo's net.

"We are trying to get the club in the Champions League. Only halfway there but a fantastic performance. We have to finish it off next week," Celtic captain Callum McGregor said.

"The group is good and doing well. We are always trying to work and get better. The confidence grows; it's only halfway.

"It's our job to create the atmosphere and bring happiness.

"It was important we try to strengthen. It's small steps, and we have a really tough game next week."