Benfica beat Celtic 4-1 at the Estadio da Luz in the Europa League, with Jhon Durán scoring twice, including an early Panenka penalty. Alexander Bah added a second, Vangelis Pavlidis sealed the win late, and Celtic remain without a point after two league-phase matches.
Lisbon, Portugal: Benfica needed only a few minutes to settle the night. By half-time they were three goals clear, and by the end Celtic had left Lisbon with a second heavy defeat in two league-phase matches and a goal difference of minus five.
A Panenka to open the scoring
The first goal arrived inside five minutes. Durán went down under a challenge from Celtic defender Dane Murray, won a penalty and took it himself, slipping the ball into the net with a Panenka that set the tone for the evening.
Bah doubled the lead in the first half with a volley, and Durán added his second shortly before the interval to make it 3-0. Benfica were in full control. Celtic hit the woodwork three times during the game, UEFA noted, but never looked like turning the match around.
Celtic find a reply, Pavlidis ends it
Celtic improved after the break, and substitute Haissem Hassan was at the heart of it. His cross picked out Camilo Durán, who headed in to make it 3-1 around the hour mark. That was as close as the Scottish champions came. Late on, Pavlidis, who had come off the bench, scored Benfica’s fourth to restore the margin. Durán spoke afterwards about the understanding he is building with his strike partner, whose scoring form he praised.
Benfica coach Marco Silva was pleased with the first half but warned that his team must be more solid when leading, a point that will matter against stronger opposition.
A flawless start for Benfica
The victory follows Benfica’s 2-0 win away at AC Milan on matchday one, a result that Milan answered on Thursday night with a 4-0 win at Salzburg. Benfica now have six points from two matches, six goals scored and one conceded, and sit third in the league-phase table.
For Celtic the picture is bleak. They lost their opener 3-1 at home to Ferencváros, and with two goals scored and seven conceded they are pointless with six league-phase matches still to play. The top eight go straight into the last 16, so the margin for error is already thin.
Next up
Benfica travel to Omonia on 22 October. Celtic host Celta Vigo in their next European fixture and play Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership on 18 October.
Result: Benfica 4-1 Celtic (UEFA Europa League, league phase, matchday 2, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, 15 October 2026)
Benfica scorers: Jhon Durán (2, one penalty), Alexander Bah, Vangelis Pavlidis
Celtic scorer: Camilo Durán
