Celtic suffer 4-1 defeat against Benfica in Lisbon
“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,” former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan said
Celtic fell to a 4-1 defeat against Benfica in Lisbon, marking another heavy blow in a season where the club has struggled to secure results in high-stakes fixtures. The scoreline did not flatter Benfica, as the Portuguese side created numerous chances and hit the woodwork twice.
Defensive Gaps Lead to Early Celtic Defeat
The visiting back four was once again exposed in the absence of injured Cameron Carter-Vickers. Gianluca Prestianni and Jhon Duran continually troubled the defense, with Dane Murray conceding an early penalty by upending Duran inside just four minutes. By the time Celtic managed to improve their performance in the second half, they were already three goals down and effectively already out of the contest.
The defeat adds to a difficult run for the club. The team has now lost two Europa League group games alongside two derby losses, leaving every high-stakes match this term to end in defeat.
Managerial Dilemma in Attack
While defensive issues persist, manager Martin O’Neill faces a significant challenge in the forward areas. Club record signing Kasper Hogh was substituted at half-time after failing to score in 10 of his first 11 outings since arriving from Bodo/Glimt during the summer. Moving Duran inside for the second half brought an immediate shift in momentum, with Scott Allan pointing out that Duran looks to get off the side of defenders and is more likely to be alive to balls in the area.
O’Neill acknowledged post-match that Duran is more effective through the middle rather than out wide where he played for previous clubs. However, the manager noted that Hogh’s price tag complicates immediate decisions about pulling the Danish forward from the firing line.
“[Duran] has played wide at his previous clubs,” O’Neill said. “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.”
Despite the mounting losses in Europe and domestic competition, O’Neill remains adamant that positive signs exist as the team prepares to regroup.