Celtic got absolutely hammered 4-1 by Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday, a result that leaves their European hopes hanging by a thread. Despite the crushing defeat, manager Martin O’Neill is somehow still talking up their chances for the knockout stages, even after his side has now lost four of their last five games. It’s a tough pill for fans to swallow, especially when former Celtic man Chris Sutton didn’t hold back, branding his old club as “flat-track bullies.”
Another Big Test Flunked, Courtesy of Sloppy Play
Let’s be real, this wasn’t just another bad day. Every high-stakes match this term, from both meetings with Rangers to both European outings, has ended in defeat for Celtic. They might have shown some fight in Lisbon after the break, but by then, they were already three goals down and pretty much out of the contest. The first half was a masterclass in self-destruction, riddled with sloppy mistakes. Dane Murray gave away a penalty inside four minutes, upending Jhon Duran, which set the tone. Sebastian Tounekti then let Alexander Bah waltz past him for Benfica’s second goal, and to cap it all off, goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was beaten way too easily as Duran slotted home the hosts’ third. Captain Callum McGregor didn’t mince words, admitting, “First half we didn’t help ourselves. Unforced errors lead to the second and third goals and you have a mountain to climb. We know at this level if you don’t look after the ball you’re going to get punished.” It sounds like a broken record, doesn’t it?
Forward Woes and Defensive Gaps Are Piling Up
While Camilo Duran did pull one back after halftime and even rattled the post, giving a glimpse of improvement, it wasn’t enough. Vangelis Pavlidis stomped out any faint Celtic hope with Benfica’s fourth late in the game. O’Neill might be spinning the “terrific” second-half performance, saying they “created chance after chance” and “came roaring back,” but the facts are brutal: Celtic sit 34th out of 36 teams in the competition after just two games. Even the most die-hard supporters are probably struggling to share his optimism. The defense looked paper-thin without the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers, with Gianluca Prestianni and Duran carving them up. But the biggest headache for O’Neill might be up front. Club record signing Kasper Hogh was yanked at halftime and has now failed to score in 10 of his first 11 outings since joining this summer. Meanwhile, Camilo Duran, shifted inside for the second half, looked far more dangerous. Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan summed it up perfectly: “If I’m a creative midfield player and I’ve got Duran and Hogh to pick from, I’m taking Duran every day of the week.” Allan noted Duran “looks to get off the side of defenders” and is “more likely to be alive” in the box, while Hogh “just isn’t firing on all cylinders.” O’Neill himself admitted he feels Duran’s best position is through the middle, but with Hogh’s hefty price tag, you have to wonder how long he’ll keep him in the firing line.
So, where do they go from here? O’Neill’s “determination” that they “can still qualify” is admirable, but the results speak for themselves. The team needs to sort out its first-half blunders and find a consistent attacking threat, fast. The next game is crucial, not just for points, but for proving that they aren’t, in fact, just flat-track bullies.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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