Benfica Host Celtic in Europa League Round 2 Clash at Estádio da Luz

European night action returns to Lisbon as Benfica prepare to face Scottish champions Celtic at the Estádio Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Round 2 of the UEFA Europa League league stage. Both sides enter this fixture with contrasting European momentum, setting up a compelling encounter in the Portuguese capital.

Current Form & European Standings

Benfica enter this contest in strong form under head coach Marco Silva. The Portuguese giants currently sit 7th in the Europa League standings after securing an impressive 2-0 away victory over AC Milan on Matchday 1. Locally, Benfica have won four of their last five matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Vitória de Guimarães and a 4-0 away triumph against Moreirense, with their only setback being a 3-1 defeat to Porto.

Celtic, managed by Martin O'Neill, find themselves in 28th place in the 36-team Europa League table after opening their campaign with a disappointing 3-1 home loss against Ferencváros. Although Celtic rebounded domestically with a 2-0 away victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, they have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions, including defeats to rivals Rangers in both the league and League Cup.

Head-to-Head Record

History heavily favors the home team in this fixture. Across all previous major European encounters, Benfica hold a 100% win record at home against Celtic, winning all four matches in Lisbon by an aggregate score of 9-1. Their most recent encounter at Estádio da Luz in November 2012 ended in a 2-1 victory for Benfica, following a 0-0 draw earlier that season at Celtic Park.

Team News & Key Players

Benfica are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation anchored by goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin. The host side is missing midfielder Enzo Barrenechea due to a knee injury, while winger Jakub Kaminski is under observation following a muscle issue. Attackers Dodi Lukebakio and Jhon Duran are slated to lead the forward line alongside Heorhii Sudakov, with João Palhinha and Fredrik Aursnes shielding the defense in a double pivot.

Celtic are anticipated to field a 4-3-3 shape, though key defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, full-back Alistair Johnston, midfielder Hyun-Jun Yang, and forward Callum Osmand are sidelined through injury. Captain Callum McGregor will be vital in controlling the tempo from central midfield, while Viljani Sinisalo starts between the posts. Offensively, Celtic will look to Camilo Duran, Haissem Hassan, and Mika Baur to unlock the hosts' backline.

Match Prediction

Given Benfica's formidable home record against Celtic and their strong defensive start in Europe, Marco Silva's side enter as strong favorites. Celtic's defensive unit will face stern pressure at the Estádio da Luz, especially in the absence of Carter-Vickers. A hard-fought home win with under 3.5 total goals looks to be the most realistic outcome as Benfica seek to solidify their place in the top tier of the Europa League standings.