Jhon Duran Shines as Benfica Cruises to 4-1 Win Over Celtic in Europa League

At Estadio da Luz, Benfica kept their perfect start in the UEFA Europa League with a commanding 4-1 win over Celtic. Colombian striker Jhon Duran scored twice, playing a key role in the triumph that keeps the Portuguese side undefeated in Europe.

Duran’s Early Impact and Team Dominance

Duran opened the scoring early on with a confident Panenka penalty. Soon after, Alexander Bah added a second with a precise volley. Before halftime, Duran found the net again, squeezing a shot from a narrow angle to put Benfica 3-0 up.

Celtic's Camilo Duran managed to pull one back, but late substitute Vangelis Pavlidis sealed the win for Benfica, securing their position third in the group standings.

Duran Praises Team Spirit and Boosts Confidence

"These two goals are important to boost my confidence and help work even more closely with Vangelis Pavlidis," said the Player of the Match. "Everyone knows his current form; he’s scoring loads of goals and owns the place. Whenever I get the chance to play, I’ll do my best for everyone."

Marco Silva Reflects on First-Half Brilliance and Areas to Improve

Benfica’s manager Marco Silva applauded his team's powerful first half that made things look easy against the Scottish champions. "We saw the quality of Celtic, and if we give them confidence they can make it tough," Silva remarked. "We managed to get back to our best version and scored the fourth. We should be more solid to control the game when leading, so there are things to learn."

Europa League Standings and Upcoming Fixtures

This dominant win places Benfica near the top of their Europa League group with six points from two matches. Their next challenge comes away at Omonia on Matchday 3.

Celtic will return to Parkhead aiming for their first European points as they prepare to host Celta Vigo.

• Celtic vs Celta Vigo: 18 Oct 2026, 17:00 (Premiership)
• Omonia vs Benfica: 22 Oct 2026, 22:00 (Europa League)