Two of the most prestigious names in European football history met in the Portuguese capital tonight, with Benfica running out 4-1 winners over Celtic.
With won three European Cups between them in the 1960s, the Scots winning theirs at the Jamor National Stadium on the outskirts of Lisbon, it is a sign of how modern football has gone that the two clubs were facing off in UEFA’s secondary competition.
In an entertaining game in which the woodwork was hit an incredible seven times, Benfica were too strong for the visitors, racing into a three-goal lead by half time thanks to a brace by Jhon Durán and an Alexander Bah goal.
Celtic rallied in the second half and pulled a goal back just after the hour mark through Camilo Durán, but Vangelis Pavlidis put the icing on the cake for Benfica with a late strike. Sahir Bhojwani and Tom Kundert report from the Estádio da Luz.
Benfica fast out of the traps
It took less than five minutes for Benfica to break the deadlock. A clumsy challenge from Dane Murray on Durán sent the Colombian tumbling, with the referee having no doubt it was a clear penalty. Durán himself stepped up, and after a short run-up, cheekily opted for the Panenka down the middle, leaving Sinisalo helplessly diving to the left.
Celtic were behind, but it didn't take long for the Glasgow side to muster up a chance of their own, forward Kasper Hogh forcing a save from Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin with his outstretched leg.
Prestiani, the man who has been the Eagles’ in-form man, started strongly once again, the Argentine winger almost converting from the left side with a scintillating curling shot in the 19th minute
Soon after, Prestianni showed his class once again, and this time it did lead to a goal. The build-up play from Prestianni on the left side cannot be overstated, with the magician creating a few yards of space before delivering a perfectly measured cross to the back post for Bah to finish.
Celtic bounced back hitting the woodwork twice in a matter of 10 seconds, Durán and Kasper Hogh both failing to convert glorious chances.
The other Durán was next to get his name on the scoresheet in the 36th minute, latching on to a ball from Prestianni to break through the Celtic back line. The striker seemed to have missed his opportunity after his first touch allowed his marker to catch up, bit Durán recovered, turning his body and lashing a powerful left footed shot through Sinisalo’s legs.
Half time: Benfica 3-0 Celtic
It was more of the same to initiate the second half, with Prestianni turning the screw on the visitors. The left winger was seeing all the angles, forcing Celtic to remain pegged back.
That said, Celtic carved out a few chances and looked more up for the fight than in the first half. In the 63rd minute, their pressure finally paid off. This time it was Celtic’s Durán, Camilo Durán, who connected with a cross from substitute Haissem Hassan to head home.
Coach Marco Silva was taking no chances, bringing on Claudio Echeverri, Vangelis Pavlidis and Andreas Schjelderup to ensure there was no sluggishness on the offensive side over the final 30 minutes.
Benfica continued to pile on the pressure, with Lukebakio, Schjelderup and Pavlidis all having chances to record the fourth, but the game remained within touching distance for Celtic.
Perhaps the most critical point of the match came in the 72nd, when Celtic’s Durán timed his run well to meet a well-weighted pass from former Arsenal and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. His shot, however, smashed into the post. It could have been a different night had that gone in, and it felt like a turning point in this tie.
In the 81st minute, Celtic maintained the pressure with Callum Osmand again creating a good chance for himself by cutting back onto his right foot in the box. Some good defending forced a corner, and Celtic seemed to be running out of steam at that point.
There was time for one more goal to delight the home fans though. Pavlidis, Benfica’s top scorer over the last two seasons, left keeper Sinisalo flatfooted after a magnificent pass from defender Tomás Araújo to close out this affair.
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Alexander Bah (Alessandro Circati, 80’), Clément Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, Samuel Dahl (Souffian El Karouani, 64’), João Palhinha, Georgiy Sudakov (Claudio Echeverri, 64’), Fredrik Aursnes, Dodi Lukebakio (Andreas Schjelderup, 67’), Gianluca Prestianni, Jhon Durán (Vangelis Pavlidis, 67’)
Celtic: Viljami Sinisalo, Colby Donovan (Jordan Lotomba, 77’), Dane Murray, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, (Oliver Sorensen (Benjamin Nygren, 57’), Mika Baur (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlainh, 57’), Camilo Durán, Kasper Hogh (Haissem Hassan, 46’), Sebastian Tounekti (Callum Osmand, 46’)
Goals:
[1-0] Jhon Durán (pen), 5’
[2-0] Alexander Bah, 23’
[3-0] Jhon Durán, 36’
[3-1] Camilo Durán, 63’
[4-1] Vangelis Pavlidis, 89’
