Sport Lisboa e Benfica hosts Celtic Glasgow in the UEFA Europa League league phase on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 21:00 local time at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. The Portuguese side enters the fixture sitting ninth in the standings with three points following a 2–0 away victory against AC Milan, while Celtic sits 28th without points after a 3–1 home defeat to Ferencvárosi TC.
Benfica Seeks Continuation at Estádio da Luz
Manager Marco Silva leads a Benfica squad that has established early momentum in Europe, anchored by a clean sheet in Milan during the opening round. Records across all competitions show the Lisbon side claiming four victories from their last five outings, with their sole blemish coming via a 3–1 defeat against FC Oporto. That run has established the hosts as firm favorites in the opening markets, where 1xBet lists a home win at 1.29. Defensive solidity has underpinned that form, prompting bookmakers to price a clean sheet or low-scoring defensive posture at 1.91 for both teams not to score through providers like YoSports.
Celtic Faces Pressure After Opening Loss
Celtic travels to the Portuguese capital under the direction of Martin O’Neill following a difficult start to the continental campaign. The Scottish club dropped its opening fixture 3–1 to Ferencvárosi TC at Celtic Park, leaving them at the wrong end of the 36-team table in 28th place. Recent domestic results compound that challenge, including a narrow 1–0 defeat to rivals Rangers FC. Across their last five fixtures in all competitions, the visitors have managed two wins against three losses, leaving outside markets to price an away victory at 11.10 with 1xBet, while Bwin places a draw at 6.25.
Historical Head-to-Head Record in Lisbon
Past meetings between the two clubs provide further context for Thursday’s encounter. In their last five head-to-head fixtures across all European competitions, Benfica has emerged victorious three times, while Celtic has claimed one win alongside a single draw. The most recent clash ended in a 2–1 home win for the Portuguese side. Those historical margins highlight the uphill battle facing the Scottish visitors as they attempt to reverse their current European trajectory on foreign soil.
Match Details and Schedule
The fixture kicks off at 21:00 Western European Summer Time at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on October 15, 2026. The match serves as Matchday 2 in the expanded UEFA Europa League league phase, where every point dictates position ahead of the knockout phase playoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the venue and kickoff time for Benfica versus Celtic? The match takes place at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Thursday, October 15, 2026, starting at 21:00 local time.
How did both teams perform in their opening Europa League matches? Benfica defeated AC Milan 2–0 away from home to claim three points, while Celtic lost 3–1 at home to Ferencvárosi TC.
What are the current standings for both clubs in the tournament? Benfica occupies ninth place with three points, whereas Celtic sits in 28th position without points after the first round of fixtures.
Related reading
