Celtic slumped to a fourth defeat in five matches as Benfica swept to a comprehensive Europa League victory in Lisbon.
Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran’s double and Alexander Bah’s volley put Marco Silva’s side 3-0 up at half-time as a ramshackle Celtic were picked apart time and time again.
The Scottish champions were fortunate not to be further behind, but improved after the break and pulled one back through Camilo Duran’s brave header.
Martin O’Neill’s outfit pushed for a second goal that would have given them hope, but Duran struck a post with a left-footed drive and Callum Osmand had a shot well saved by home goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
However, in the closing stages, Benfica added further gloss to the scoreline as substitute Vangelis Pavlidis scuffed a shot past the flat-footed Viljami Sinisalo.
Benfica are third in the standings with two wins from two, while Celtic are 34th of 36 teams after two losses.
Celtic analysis: Scottish champions come up short again
Before the international break, Rangers deservedly beat Celtic home and away and Ferencvaros came out on top at Parkhead in Europe.
After an improved result and performance at Motherwell on Sunday – which returned them to the top of the Scottish Premiership – there was hope Celtic had put those woes behind them.
But they trailed inside five minutes at Estadio da Luz. Dane Murray committed a careless foul on Duran and the Benfica striker dusted himself down to dink a delightful penalty past Sinisalo.
Benfica’s second came after more sloppy defending as Sebastian Tounekti failed to track Bah’s run into the Celtic box and the Dane found the bottom corner.
It was almost three straight from kick-off as Duran fired into the side netting, but Celtic failed to heed that warning as Prestianni played Duran through minutes later and the Colombian striker beat Sinisalo from a tight angle.
It was alarmingly easy for a classy Benfica outfit to cut through Celtic, as reflected by their 26 shots at goal – 21 of those coming in the opposition box.
O’Neill withdrew club-record signing Kasper Hogh – who has now failed to score in 10 of his first 11 Celtic appearances – and Tounekti at half-time as he searched for a much-needed spark.
The introduction of Haissem Hassan and Osmand had the desired effect. Hassan shot straight at Trubin and teed up Duran’s goal, but Benfica continued to create chances seemingly at will.
Andreas Schjelderup rattled the post and Pavlidis added the fourth goal the hosts’ play deserved late on.
Admittedly, this was not a game Celtic were expected to win, but they failed to even compete for long periods and were their own worst enemy at times with unforced errors.
They host Hearts in the league on Sunday in a big test before returning to European action against Celta Vigo.
