Benfica 4–1 Celtic: Durán opens the scoring and settles the first half with a double
Benfica beat Celtic 4–1 in Matchday 2 of the Europa League and extended their scoring run to 11 games. The match was decided before the break: Jhon Durán converted a penalty in the 5th minute and made it 3–0 in the 36th minute.
Automatically translated from Polish · AI-generated from GolVolt data and the sources listed below the article
Number of the match26That is how many shots Benfica had against Celtic's 14, even though both teams had seven shots on target.
Three goals before the break
Already in the 5th minute Jhon Durán scored from the penalty spot after a foul by Dane Murray and gave Benfica a 1–0 lead. In the 23rd minute Alexander Bah made it 2–0, following up a shot after a cross from Gianluca Prestianni. In the 36th minute Durán made it 3–0, beating the Celtic goalkeeper between the legs. Prestianni provided the assist for that goal too. The hosts went into the dressing room with a three-goal cushion, and Celtic failed to respond throughout the entire first half.
A consolation goal and a strike from distance
In the 63rd minute Camilo Durán reduced the deficit to 3–1 with a header from a Haissem Hassan cross. Celtic could not build on that goal, however. In the 89th minute Vangelis Pavlidis set the final score at 4–1, finishing a move from distance after a pass from Tomás Araújo. It was the hosts' only goal of the second half, and the last of the match.
The picture of the game and the hero
Benfica had 26 shots, Celtic 14. Both teams had seven shots on target, and possession was 53 to 47 in the hosts' favour. Corners were 8 to 6 to Benfica. The hero was Jhon Durán, scorer of the double, who now has 3 league goals this season. Both of his goals came in the first half, and Prestianni assisted the second, having also provided the pass for Bah's goal.
Early goals and a late blow
Durán's quick goal fits Benfica's profile: 4 of their 25 goals this season have come in the first 15 minutes. The closing stages belong to the Portuguese side too: 5 of their 25 goals came after the 75th minute, and Pavlidis's goal in the 89th minute added to that tally. Pavlidis now has 7 league goals this season.
Reactions after the match
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton commented on the defeat in a mocking tone, and fans on social media sharply criticised the team. Before the match Marco Silva said he was pleased with Benfica's start in the Europa League and wanted to keep up the good results. Beating Celtic was meant to be the goal for Thursday.
The streak and the lack of points
Benfica scored in an 11th consecutive match. Celtic still have not won in the Europa League and, after the defeat to Benfica and before that to Ferencváros, have no points in the competition. Benfica have had one goal disallowed after VAR this season, which gives them the 2nd-highest figure in the league in that respect. Of the seven goals they have conceded this season, two came after the 75th minute, while Celtic have conceded one of their seven that way.
Live · goal
Automatically translated from Polish · AI-generated from GolVolt data
Minute 914–1
Pavlidis finishes off Celtic, Benfica 4–1 Celtic
Vangelis Pavlidis made it 4–1 in the 89th minute, assisted by Tomás Araújo. It is his seventh league goal this season. Benfica scored 4 of their 21 goals after the 75th minute.
Number of the match: 7 — That is how many league goals Vangelis Pavlidis now has this season.
Minute 393–0
Durán scores again, Benfica 3–0 Celtic
Jhon Durán makes it 3–0 in the 36th minute, and Gianluca Prestianni again finishes the move with an assist. Durán opened the scoring in the 5th minute from the penalty spot. He now has 3 league goals this season.
Number of the match: 3–0 — That was Benfica's lead in the 39th minute, and Celtic had not replied once.
Minute 252–0
Bah makes it 2–0 to Benfica against Celtic
Alexander Bah scores in the 23rd minute, set up by Gianluca Prestianni. Benfica now lead by two goals. Earlier, in the 5th minute, Jhon Durán scored from the penalty spot.
Number of the match: 23rd — In the 23rd minute Bah scored Benfica's second goal, set up by Prestianni.
Minute 71–0
Durán from the spot, Benfica 1–0 Celtic
Benfica go ahead in the 5th minute. Jhon Durán did not waste the penalty and opened the scoring. It is his 2 league goals this season.
Number of the match: 5th minute — That is how long we had to wait for the first goal in this match.
Live · half-time · 3–0
Benfica 3–0 at half-time. The run goes on
Benfica have three goals at the break. Jhon Durán scored twice, Alexander Bah once. Celtic go into the dressing room with nothing on the board.
Automatically translated from Polish · AI-generated from GolVolt data
Number of the match5 of 5This season Benfica have led at half-time five times and won all five of those games.
What the match has shown so far. A penalty in the 5th minute set up the evening. Then Bah in the 23rd minute and Durán in the 36th minute, both assisted by Gianluca Prestianni. Benfica had 12 shots in the first half, Celtic 6. Shots on target were 4 to 3, so the visitors showed something too. Possession: 55% to 45%.
What the season's numbers say. Benfica have scored in 10 games in a row, and the run looks stable. They can also be dangerous early: 3 of their 21 goals this season came in the first 15 minutes. Durán now has 3 league goals. The team's top scorer, Vangelis Pavlidis, has 6 goals and 1 assist in 6 games.
Why this rating
Four pillars, each measured against the same league over the last 12 months.
The GolVolt rating comes from four pillars — drama, heroes, stakes and quality of play — measured against this league's matches of the last 12 months (model nap-v2).
GolVolt reviewpost-match article
Benfica 4–1 Celtic: Durán opens the scoring and settles the first half with a doubleThe review gives the result away — switch spoilers back on to read it.
Benfica beat Celtic 4–1 in Matchday 2 of the Europa League and extended their scoring run to 11 games. The match was decided before the break: Jhon Durán converted a penalty in the 5th minute and made it 3–0 in the 36th minute.
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