Benfica lead Celtic 1-0 after early Duran penalty in Europa League
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Benfica led Celtic 1-0 in the early stages after a fifth-minute penalty.
- Jhon Duran scored the penalty at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
- The game was a Europa League league-phase match on matchday two.
Benfica led Celtic 1-0 in the early stages on Thursday night. Jhon Duran scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute. The match was still in play at the time of writing.
The game took place at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. It was a Europa League league-phase match on matchday two. Kickoff was 8:00 PM UK time, according to Sky Sports.
Searches for "benfica vs celtic" spiked across four countries. Fans in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia followed the game live. The early goal gave them plenty to talk about.
What happened
Benfica started fast and won an early penalty. Dane Murray fouled Duran inside the box, the Scottish Sun reported. Duran then stepped up and scored from the spot.
A penalty is a free shot at goal from 12 yards. It is given when a foul happens inside the box. Duran placed his kick past the goalkeeper in the fifth minute.
Benfica named a strong starting team for the home match. Anatoliy Trubin started in goal for the home side. Alexander Bah, Tomas Araujo, Clement Lenglet, and Samuel Dahl formed the back line.
Joao Palhinha and Fredrik Aursnes played in central midfield. Dodi Lukebakio, Georgiy Sudakov, and Gianluca Prestianni played behind Duran. Duran led the attack for Benfica.
Celtic started Viljami Sinisalo in goal for the away side. Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Auston Trusty, and Kieran Tierney formed the back four. Callum McGregor and Jens Baur played in midfield.
Sebastian Tounekti, Camilo Duran, and Kasper Hogh joined the attack. Note the two Durans on the pitch. Jhon Duran played for Benfica, while Camilo Duran played for Celtic.
Benfica left top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis on the bench. Pavlidis had scored 14 goals in 14 games this season, according to Sports Mole. His place on the bench was a big call by the home team.
Celtic missed defender Cameron Carter-Vickers through injury. The Scottish Sun reported that Carter-Vickers sat out the trip to Lisbon. Celtic also missed Alistair Johnston and Yang Hyun-Jun, according to Sports Mole.
The early goal gave Benfica a strong start at home. Celtic had to chase the game from the fifth minute on. The away side needed a fast response to stay in the match.
Why it matters
The result could shape both teams in the Europa League. Benfica started the night with three points from one game. Celtic started with zero points after their first defeat.
Benfica won their first match 2-0 away at AC Milan. The win came on September 16, World Soccer Talk reported. A second win would lift Benfica to six points from two games.
Celtic lost their first match 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros. The defeat came on September 17. A second defeat would leave Celtic with zero points from two games.
Benfica came into the game in strong home form. Benfica had won six home games and drawn one, per Sports Mole. Estadio da Luz has been a tough place for away teams this season.
Benfica also bounced back well from a recent defeat. The team lost 3-1 to Porto on September 20. Benfica then beat Vitoria SC 2-0 on October 11.
Celtic came into the game under pressure. The club had lost three games in a row before beating Motherwell. The Motherwell win came by 2-0 on October 11.
That win kept Celtic top of the Scottish league. But the European form stayed poor.
Celtic lost 1-0 to Rangers on September 20. Celtic also lost 3-0 to Rangers in the League Cup on September 13.
The two clubs have a long shared history in Europe. They have met six times before this game. Benfica won three of those games, Celtic won two, and one ended in a draw.
The last meeting came in 2012 in the Champions League. Benfica won 2-1 at home on November 20, 2012. The teams drew 0-0 in Glasgow two months before that game.
One-goal nights are common in Europe, as Real Betis vs Porto showed.
The managers added another layer to the story. Marco Silva led Benfica into the home match. Martin O'Neill led Celtic into the away test.
Silva took over after Mourinho left for Real Madrid, per Sports Mole. O'Neill faced growing scrutiny after a mixed start to the season. A bad night in Lisbon would add to that pressure.
Celtic also carried a painful memory from earlier this season. The club lost 5-1 to LASK in a Champions League qualifier, according to Sports Mole. Celtic had led 4-0 from the first leg of that tie.
What happens next
If Benfica hold the lead, they will reach six points. Six points from two games would put them near the top. The league phase rewards teams that win early games.
If Celtic lose, they will stay on zero points. Zero points from two games would be a poor start. Celtic would need wins in later games to climb back.
The league phase gives each team eight games in total. Points from those games decide who moves on. Every win matters, and every loss hurts.
Benfica will want to keep their strong home form going. The team has been hard to beat at Estadio da Luz. Big home wins can change a group fast, as Villa's 6-0 rout showed.
Celtic will need a quick fix in attack and defence. The team has leaked goals in Europe this season. Celtic conceded three goals at home to Ferencvaros.
Fans in the US could watch the game live on several services. Fubo, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and DAZN USA carried the match. Kickoff was 3:00 PM Eastern Time in the US.
The next league-phase games will test both teams again. Benfica will aim to stay near the top of the table. Celtic will aim to open their points account.
This match showed how fast a European night can turn. One foul in the fifth minute changed the whole game. Benfica took the gift and grabbed the early lead.
Celtic still had time to fight back when this article was written. The away side needed a goal to change the mood. The final score was not yet known, and the night was far from over.
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