Benfica Send Celtic Warning After Dominant Victory Ahead of Europa League Clash

Benfica have issued a timely warning to Celtic ahead of Thursday’s Europa League encounter after sweeping aside Vitória Guimarães with a convincing 2-0 win at the Estádio da Luz.

Marco Silva’s men were firmly in control throughout Sunday’s contest, enjoying more than 60 per cent of possession and ensuring their opponents failed to register a single effort on target.

The Portuguese giants created numerous opportunities, attempting 23 shots and finishing with an expected-goals figure of 2.76. Vitória Guimarães, meanwhile, managed just eight attempts without seriously troubling the Benfica goalkeeper.

Samuel Dahl gave the hosts the lead in the 24th minute, finishing off a move involving Vangelis Pavlidis to put Benfica on course for another victory.

Silva’s side continued to dictate proceedings after the break, with Heorhiy Sudakov coming off the bench to seal the result 15 minutes from time. The Ukrainian midfielder collected Claudio Echeverri’s pass before sending a low finish into the net.

While the performance itself will have caught Celtic’s attention, Benfica’s strength in depth could be an even greater concern for Martin O’Neill.

Sudakov, Dodi Lukebakio, Fredrik Aursnes and Echeverri were all named among the substitutes, allowing Silva to rotate his starting line-up before introducing several important players as the match progressed.

Benfica were therefore able to secure three points without requiring their entire attacking contingent to play from the beginning, highlighting the options available to their manager ahead of Thursday’s European test.

The result also extended an impressive sequence for the Lisbon outfit. They have won nine of their previous 10 matches in all competitions, with their only defeat during that period coming against Portuguese rivals Porto.

Celtic will travel to Portugal having restored some confidence with a 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park. However, the challenge awaiting O’Neill’s team is likely to be considerably tougher than their latest domestic assignment.

Although Celtic claimed all three points against Motherwell, there were occasions when their opponents found opportunities to play through the Hoops’ defensive structure. Against a side boasting Benfica’s technical ability and attacking quality, similar weaknesses could prove costly.

The Scottish champions also have pressure to contend with following their disappointing start to the Europa League campaign. A 3-1 home defeat to Ferencváros left Celtic needing a response, making Thursday’s trip particularly important.

Benfica, by contrast, will enter the contest encouraged by their latest performance and the depth of their squad. Their ability to dominate possession, create chances and introduce high-quality players from the bench presents a considerable challenge for Celtic.

Thursday’s fixture will take place at the Estádio da Luz, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3.

For Celtic, a disciplined defensive performance and greater control in possession will be essential if they are to leave Lisbon with a positive result against one of their most formidable opponents of the season.