Celtic forward Camilo Durán emerged as a rare bright spot for the Scottish club during a difficult 4-1 defeat against Benfica in the second round of the Europa League league phase, according to coverage from AS Colombia and Radio Hoy. The Colombian striker scored in the second half in Lisbon, highlighting his persistent threat inside the opposition penalty area as the team faced heavy pressure from the Portuguese side.
How Camilo Durán Scored and Struck the Post in Lisbon
The breakthrough for the visiting side arrived in the 63rd minute at the Estádio da Benfica. Winger Haissem Hassan delivered a precise cross into the box, allowing Durán to time his run, outmaneuver the home defense, and power a header past the goalkeeper. That effort cut the deficit to 3-1, arriving after Benfica had built a commanding lead behind a first-half brace and an additional strike from Alexander Bah. Durán nearly added a second goal later in the match when a fierce shot from distance rattled off the goalpost. Despite a late Vangelis Pavlidis goal that restored a three-goal margin for the hosts, the Colombian international’s active presence in the final third provided a primary positive takeaway for the Glasgow squad.
Should it be Camilo Duran or Kasper Hogh up front for Celtic?Scott Allan says he'd pick Duran 'every day of the week' over Celtic's record signing.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Rh7yOPMyXG
Scott Allan Endorses Camilo Durán Over Kasper Høgh in Celtic Attack
Durán’s performance drew strong praise from former Celtic player Scott Allan, who analyzed the club’s ongoing selection battle in the attacking third. Speaking on the team’s forward options, Allan singled out the Colombian’s proactive approach to taking on defenders along the flanks. In contrast, Allan questioned the current output of Danish forward Kasper Høgh, arguing that Høgh needs to deliver significantly more across other areas of the pitch to justify regular selection over the in-form South American.
“A day like today, I would definitely stick with Camilo Durán. I feel that he seeks to attack the defenders on the flanks; he is more attentive to those situations. On his part, Kasper for some reason does not finish rendering at the highest level,” Allan stated in his assessment.
Tactical Competition and Standing in Europe
The analysis from former players highlights a genuine squad dilemma for manager Martin O’Neill as Celtic evaluates its attacking rotation across domestic and international competitions. Durán’s recent scoring form has strengthened his candidacy for an expanded role within the senior lineup, especially as the team looks to recover from a challenging night in Portugal. While Benfica ultimately controlled the fixture and secured the three points, Durán’s ability to create scoring angles and test the frame of the goal provides the technical staff with clear evidence of his readiness for increased minutes in upcoming fixtures.
¡CABEZAZO COLOMBIANO PARA DESCONTAR! Camilo Durán ganó en las alturas y anotó el 1-3 de Celtic vs. Benfica.📺 Toda la #UEL por ESPN en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/EcQPjEW2GJ
