Jhon Durán scores brace as Benfica beats Celtic in Europa

Jhon Durán scored a brilliant brace, featuring a nerveless Panenka penalty, to lead Benfica to a 4-1 victory over Celtic in the UEFA Europa League, AS Colombia reported.

Benfica Open Scoring Through Durán’s Panenka

The match at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon turned quickly in the opening minutes during the second matchday of the 2026/2027 Europa League. In the fifth minute, 22-year-old Colombian striker Jhon Jáder Durán earned a penalty after being brought down inside the box by his marker. Instead of opting for power, the young forward—whose sports rights belong to Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, having previously played in Russia and Turkey before arriving in Portugal—calmly chipped the ball down the middle past goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo as it rolled slowly into the net.

Second-Half Clincher Seals the Brace

Durán struck again in the 36th minute to cement his status as the central figure of the match, extending Benfica’s lead after Alexander Bah had scored the team’s second goal at the 23rd minute. Receiving a long pass into the area, Durán won the ball, positioned himself to shoot with his left foot while falling down, and slotted his shot past the goalkeeper to complete his first brace since joining the Portuguese side. The goals brought his total tally to 4 goals in 14 official matches played for the club, comprising one in the Europa League, one in the European qualifying round, and two in the Liga de Portugal, alongside previous stints where he hadn’t scored against AC Milan at San Siro. Celtic managed to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute through 24-year-old Camilo Durán—who joined the Scottish club as a reinforcement for this season after standing out at Qarabag in Azerbaijan and was formed in the DIM youth academy, marking his eighth goal in 14 games alongside three assists—but Benfica maintained control to secure the 4-1 final scoreline.

Navigating Squad Competition and Standing Out

The standout performance arrives at a crucial juncture for the striker, who has frequently started matches on the bench behind in-form teammate Vangelis Pavlidis. Speaking to reporters after the match, Durán addressed his current squad role with pragmatism. “I am here to help my team,” Durán stated. “Everyone knows that Pavlidis is an undisputed starter and deserves it because he has been playing very well. I just arrived, and in the minutes I get, I will give everything for my team.” He also brushed off external criticism regarding his form, emphasizing that his primary focus remains on contributing goals and hard work whenever called upon by the coaching staff.

UEFA Europa League Ambitions and Next Fixtures

With the commanding win over Celtic safely secured, Benfica turns its attention back to a demanding domestic and continental schedule. Durán made it clear that the squad’s aspirations in the Europa League stretch far beyond the initial league phase. “If we participate, we have to play to win,” Durán said, outlining the team’s internal objectives for the European campaign. Benfica returns to action in the coming days as Marco Silva’s squad aims to sustain its strong momentum in both the Primeira Liga and European competition.