Martin O'Neill has turned Celtic's Lisbon link into the emotional frame for Thursday's Benfica vs Celtic tie, but this is a follow-up to the selection talk earlier this week. Lisbon hosted Celtic's 1967 European Cup win over Inter Milan, and by next year it will be 60 years since that triumph. O'Neill says a lot of the squad saw the stadium on a trip there last season and know the history.
O'Neill's Lisbon angle
"Secondly, the history of the football club and the connection to Lisbon, it's terrific, something the football club should be really proud of," O'Neill said, speaking to BBC Sport. He added that "it should have a galvanizing effect on us." The manager also said the occasion is separate from the football in many respects, which is probably the right way to keep it. Celtic cannot lean on memory alone at Estadio da Luz.
Celtic's Europa League start has been poor. They sit 28th with 0 points after one game, while Benfica are 7th with 3 points. That gap reflects more than one result, especially after Benfica beat AC Milan 2-0 away to open the campaign. O'Neill acknowledged that run, saying Benfica have gained confidence from winning in Milan, and that they have good players.
Benfica's stronger recent form
Marco Silva's side are also second in the Primeira Liga with 19 points, which gives them a cleaner domestic backdrop as well. O'Neill still backed his own side to make life awkward, saying Celtic have good players too and want to cause Benfica a few problems. That is the realistic line here, because the Lisbon history is a lift, not a guarantee.
The injury picture adds another layer for Celtic. Cameron Carter-Vickers did not train on Wednesday morning and was ruled out with a strain, while Camilo Duran was hoping to be available later because his partner was due to give birth. O'Neill also pointed to last season's run of four games in about 10 days in March, which he said really took its toll, though he believes this squad is equipped for a busy spell.
Celtic arrive off Sunday's 2-0 win at Motherwell, and they remain top of the Premiership with 21 points. The task in Lisbon is still bigger than a domestic pick-me-up. A result on Thursday would sit on top of the history talk rather than inside it, and that is the challenge when Benfica vs Celtic kicks off on 2026-10-15.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
