O’Neill defiant in defeat but Celtic’s ‘flat-track bullies’ fail another big test
Celtic lost 4-1 away to Benfica in the Europa League, extending a run of four defeats in five matches. Manager Martin O’Neill remained optimistic about qualifying, pointing to a much-improved second half, while former Celtic striker Chris Sutton criticised the team as “flat-track bullies” after another failure in a high-stakes match.
Celtic’s defensive errors put them three goals behind before the break: Dane Murray conceded an early penalty, Sebastian Tounekti was beaten for Benfica’s second, and Viljami Sinisalo was judged at fault for the third. Camilo Duran scored after half-time and hit the post, but Vangelis Pavlidis added Benfica’s fourth late on. Celtic are 34th of 36 teams after two Europa League games; Kasper Hogh was substituted at half-time and has scored once in his first 11 appearances.
- Celtic lost 4-1 to Benfica after costly first-half mistakes.
- O’Neill says qualification is still possible.
- Celtic sit 34th after two Europa League matches.
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Celtic are a Glasgow football club with a large support and a history of success in Scotland. They compete in European tournaments such as the Europa League, where clubs from different countries play one another.
Martin O’Neill is Celtic’s manager, responsible for selecting the team and deciding how it plays. Benfica are a leading Portuguese club, and Chris Sutton is a former Celtic striker who now comments on football. European matches against established clubs such as Benfica can test Celtic’s defence and their ability to compete beyond domestic football.
The Europa League’s league phase brings teams together to earn points towards qualification for the later rounds. Celtic’s position in that competition matters because they need results across their matches to progress.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
O’Neill’s optimism has a reasonable basis: Celtic improved markedly after the break, created chances and scored, suggesting the first-half collapse does not capture the team’s full ability. With many Europa League matches still to play, backing the players and focusing on their response may help restore confidence and keep qualification attainable.
The case against
Sutton’s criticism reflects a recurring concern that Celtic’s domestic strength has not translated into performances under greater pressure. Defensive mistakes put the team in a deep hole before half-time, and one improved spell could not prevent a 4-1 defeat; the recent run of losses and weak league position make doubts about resilience and readiness for major tests understandable.