Benfica favored to continue dominant form against struggling Celtic side

Benfica host Celtic on Thursday night in a Europa League clash that sees the hosts enter the match as strong favorites.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 13 October 2026

Benfica have enjoyed a strong start to their campaign and enter this fixture in excellent form. They recently secured a victory against AC Milan in the Champions League and have won nine of their last ten matches across all competitions. Marco Silva has his squad performing well at the Estadio da Luz, where they have won their last four home games.

Home dominance brings confidence

The hosts remain a very difficult team to beat on their own turf. Their recent home form includes ten goals scored and only three conceded across four matches. This consistency has made them a shorter price in the market as punters back them to maintain their momentum against the Scottish visitors.

Celtic face massive uphill task

Celtic arrive in Portugal needing to find stability after a difficult start to their season. They suffered a defeat in their opening Europa League match against Ferencvaros and have historically struggled when playing away at Benfica. Martin O Neill faces a difficult challenge to keep his team in the contest given their poor record in this stadium.

Team news and key players

Benfica will have Clement Lenglet available for selection following a suspension. Vangelis Pavlidis remains the primary goal threat for the hosts having scored eight times in the league. Celtic will be missing Callum Osmand and Alistair Johnston due to injuries, while Kieran Tierney is expected to be fit for the trip.

Betting trends and analysis

Historical data favors the Portuguese side as they have won every home match against Celtic in the past. The odds suggest a comfortable victory for Benfica, though the expectation is for a controlled performance rather than a high scoring rout. Many bettors are looking at the home win combined with a low goal total.

What it means for a bet

Backing a Benfica victory coupled with under 4.5 total goals offers the best value for this Europa League fixture.

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