Benfica welcomes Celtic to the Estádio da Luz on October 15, 2026, in a UEFA Europa League clash that appears lopsided on paper. The Portuguese giants boast an formidable domestic record of 22 wins and 10 draws, remaining unbeaten with a prolific 69 goals scored. Their recent form, with three wins and two draws in their last five, underscores their consistent excellence. Celtic, by contrast, arrive in Lisbon enduring a challenging season, reflected in their 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, coupled with a modest 15 goals scored and 19 conceded. Their recent run of two wins, one draw, and two losses paints a picture of inconsistency.
The historical head-to-head offers some solace for Celtic, including a previous goalless draw, though Benfica claimed a 2-1 victory in their last encounter. The odds heavily favour Benfica at 1.289, highlighting their dominance, with a draw at 6.75 and a Celtic win a distant 11.1. Given Benfica's attacking prowess and Celtic's defensive struggles, the Over 2.5 goals at 1.45 seems a likely outcome. Watch for Benfica's attacking fluidity against a Celtic side that will need to produce a monumental defensive effort to stem the tide.
24. S. Soares, 6. A. Bah, 3. A. Circati, 44. T. Araujo, 26. S. Dahl, 18. L. Barreiro, 36. J. Palhinha, 27. Rafa Silva, 25. G. Prestianni, 21. A. Schjelderup, 14. V. Pavlidis
1. V. Sinisalo, 51. C. Donovan, 47. D. Murray, 5. L. Scales, 63. K. Tierney, 42. C. McGregor, 22. M. Baur, 11. C. Duran, 8. B. Nygren, 17. S. Tounekti, 9. K. Hogh
Match events
5' Goal Penalty — Jhon Durán (Benfica)
23' Goal Normal Goal — Alexander Bah (Benfica) (assists: Gianluca Prestianni)
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