Benfica secured a 4‑1 victory over Celtic in the first round of the Europa League group stage at the Estádio da Luz, with the hosts running out three goals ahead at the break. Jhon Duran opened the scoring from a penalty, followed by a volley from Alexander Bah and a third goal from Duran himself before the half‑time whistle. Celtic’s lone reply came in the second half when Camilo Duran headed in a cross from Haissem Hassan, but Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis added a late fourth goal to seal the win.
The match was a stark illustration of the gap between the two sides. Celtic’s defensive lapses were on full display, with a back‑of‑the‑leg challenge by Dane Murray earning a penalty that Duran converted with a panenka. A series of chances were missed in the first half, including a cross by Sebastian Tounekti that was ignored by Bah, and a shot from Jhon Duran that hit the post. In the second half, Celtic’s attack looked more dangerous, with Camilo Duran and Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain creating several opportunities, yet the hosts were unable to convert any of them. Benfica’s defence, meanwhile, remained solid, and their forwards capitalised on the space left by Celtic’s backline.
Benfica’s manager Marco Silva praised his team’s performance, noting that the hosts had been “too good” to be stopped. The win leaves Benfica in a strong position in their Europa League group, while Celtic now face the task of regrouping after two defeats in the opening two group matches. Despite the loss, Celtic’s manager Martin O’Neill expressed optimism about the second‑half effort. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said he was “really delighted” with how the team fought back after conceding early, and that the performance gave him confidence that the club could still qualify from the group.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor echoed his manager’s sentiment, describing the result as disappointing but acknowledging the improvement in the second half. He highlighted the team’s ability to create chances and suggested that the match was a “game of two halves.” Both sides will now look to the remaining group fixtures to secure enough points to advance, with Celtic hoping to turn the tide in their upcoming matches.