Jhon Durán on the double as Benfica prove too hot to handle for Celtic

Jhon Durán scored twice as Benfica overwhelmed Celtic 4-1 in a Europa League clash in Lisbon. The Scottish champions struggled against a clinical Benfica side, who took control early and maintained dominance throughout the match. The game started with a controversial penalty awarded to Benfica after Celtic defender Dane Murray fouled Durán inside the box. The Colombia striker converted the spot-kick with a Panenka-style finish, beating goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. Just before halftime, Durán added a second goal, following a strike from Alexander Bah in the 23rd minute. Celtic responded in the 63rd minute through a header from Camilo Durán, who had recently rejoined the team after staying in Glasgow for the birth of his second child. However, they failed to make further progress despite several chances. Substitute Vangelis Pavlidis sealed the result for Benfica with a late goal in the final moments of the match. Benfica's performance was marked by sharp attacking play, with Gianluca Prestianni creating problems for Celtic down the left. Alexander Bah capitalized on defensive errors, scoring a crucial goal in the first half. Meanwhile, Celtic's efforts to recover were hindered by missed chances and defensive lapses. Celtic's recent Europa League campaign has been challenging, having previously lost 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros. They now face a tough test in the Scottish Premiership against Hearts this weekend. The match saw several substitutions impact the flow of play, with both teams generating opportunities in the latter stages. Ultimately, Benfica's composure and efficiency proved decisive, leaving Celtic to reflect on another difficult outing.