Why Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss Celtic’s Champions League Play-Off

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss both legs of Celtic’s Champions League play-off against LASK due to a UEFA suspension. The midfielder was shown a straight red card during a UEFA Conference League match with Besiktas, resulting in a three-match ban. This suspension extends to his time at Celtic and will rule him out of both the first leg at Celtic Park and the return match in Austria.

Despite this, he remains registered in the Celtic squad for the LASK tie. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence is a significant blow for manager Martin O’Neill, especially following the departure of Arne Engels for £22 million to West Ham. Celtic aims to avoid a repeat of last season’s painful Champions League play-off exit, and overcoming LASK would restore Champions League nights at Celtic Park.