Celtic manager Martin O'Neill maintained his belief in his team's European prospects following a 4-1 defeat to Benfica in the Europa League, though the Scottish club's performance in the opening period left them with a mountain to climb in Lisbon on Thursday.
The visitors found themselves three goals down by half-time, undone by defensive lapses that proved costly against a Portuguese side operating at a higher level. O'Neill acknowledged the early mistakes but pointed to an improved second-half display as evidence that qualification remained achievable, despite Celtic sitting 34th of 36 teams in the competition after two matches.
Analyst Chris Sutton offered a sharper assessment, describing Celtic as
"flat-track bullies"— a characterisation that reflected the club's alarming record in high-pressure fixtures this season. The Scottish champions have now lost four of their last five games, with every significant contest ending in defeat: both Old Firm derbies against Rangers and both European outings.
How did the match unfold?
Benfica dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Celtic's defending proving vulnerable from the start. Dane Murray conceded a penalty within four minutes after upending Jhon Durán, setting the tone for a chaotic first half. According to Celtic's official match report, Durán converted from the spot in the 5th minute before adding a second in the 36th. Alexander Bah extended Benfica's lead in the 23rd minute after Sebastian Tounekti failed to track his run, and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was beaten too easily as Durán completed his brace.
The hosts' dominance was reflected in the underlying statistics. According to match data from The Athletic, Benfica registered 26 shots to Celtic's 14, while creating 23 chances compared to Celtic's 12. The Portuguese side also struck the woodwork twice in addition to their four goals, underlining their superiority.
Celtic emerged with greater purpose after the interval. Camilo Duran pulled one back and struck a post as the Scottish champions created opportunities in abundance, but Vangelis Pavlidis struck Benfica's fourth in the 89th minute to extinguish any remaining hope of a comeback.
What did O'Neill say about the defeat?
The Celtic manager resisted the temptation to dwell on the first-half collapse, instead emphasising the team's second-half resilience.
"Last thing you want to do is concede so early on,"O'Neill said.
"We could've capitulated, but I thought the second-half performance was terrific. We created chance after chance."
He remained convinced that progression remained within reach.
"The second-half performance gives me the determination... I think we can still qualify. We can still do it. We came roaring back. We could've scored a number of goals. I accept on the break they could have scored themselves, as they did with their fourth goal."
Captain Callum McGregor acknowledged that Celtic had contributed significantly to their own downfall. Speaking to TNT Sports, he reflected:
"First half we didn't help ourselves. Unforced errors lead to the second and third goals and you have a mountain to climb. We know at this level if you don't look after the ball you're going to get punished."
Where are Celtic's defensive vulnerabilities?
The absence of injured centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers proved costly, with Gianluca Prestianni and Duran repeatedly finding space to torment Celtic's back line. Benfica's attacking threats materialised with alarming regularity, exposing the limitations of the available defensive options.
This latest European setback follows an earlier loss in the competition. According to UEFA's official records, Celtic had already suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencváros on 17 September, leaving them with minimal margin for error in their remaining fixtures.
What is the issue with Celtic's attacking options?
O'Neill faces a significant dilemma in forward areas, particularly regarding club record signing Kasper Hogh. The Danish striker was withdrawn at half-time and has now failed to score in 10 of his first 11 appearances since arriving from Bodo/Glimt during the summer transfer window.
Jhon Durán, shifted into a central position for the second half, posed considerably more threat than his team-mate and demonstrated the kind of movement and awareness that Hogh has struggled to replicate. Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan was forthright in his assessment.
"If I'm a creative midfield player and I've got Duran and Hogh to pick from, I'm taking Duran every day of the week,"he said.
"He looks to get off the side of defenders, if you put a ball in the area, he's more likely to be alive to it. Hogh just isn't firing on all cylinders. I can take that if he's doing the other side of the game a lot better than he is. You can see why Martin O'Neill made the substitution at half-time and there's no doubt Celtic looked much better going forward."
O'Neill acknowledged that Durán's best position is through the middle rather than on the wing, where he has operated at previous clubs.
"[Duran] has played wide at his previous clubs,"the manager explained.
"But I personally feel his best position is through the middle. It's now a matter of us trying to fit him in and I think we can do that. It's a real battle for places now."However, Hogh's substantial transfer fee may make it difficult for O'Neill to drop him entirely from the starting lineup in the near term.
What happens next for Celtic?
Celtic face a domestic fixture against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on 18 October, offering an opportunity to rebuild confidence before returning to European action. Their next Europa League assignment comes on 22 October when they host Celta Vigo, a match that takes on heightened significance given their precarious position in the competition standings.
Key Facts:
- Celtic lost 4-1 to Benfica in the Europa League, with Jhon Durán scoring twice and Alexander Bah and Vangelis Pavlidis adding one each
- The Scottish club sit 34th of 36 teams in the Europa League after two matches, having also lost 3-1 at home to Ferencváros on 17 September
- Benfica created 23 chances and registered 26 shots, significantly outperforming Celtic's 12 chances and 14 shots
- Kasper Hogh, Celtic's club record signing, has scored in only one of his first 11 appearances since joining from Bodo/Glimt
- Celtic host Celta Vigo in their next Europa League fixture on 22 October
