Benfica vs Celtic Predicted Lineups: Team News for UEFA Europa League

Benfica welcome Celtic to Lisbon in the UEFA Europa League league stage, with both clubs looking to establish themselves early in the new-format table. Benfica come into this fixture ranked 4th in the overall league round table with 0 points from 0 games but carrying excellent recent form in the competition, while Celtic sit 9th, also on 0 points, listed in the Play Offs band despite not yet kicking a ball in this season’s tournament.

For the hosts, a run of results in European action reading LWWDWW underlines why they are being viewed as one of the early contenders. They have scored 19 goals in their last six Europa League matches, averaging 3.2 per game, and their comparison indices heavily favour them over Celtic. With that backdrop, the focus naturally turns to predicted lineups and how Benfica’s attacking talent, led by V. Pavlidis and Rafa, will be configured against a Celtic side still something of an unknown at this level in 2026.

Celtic’s domestic and European campaigns often hinge on how quickly they adapt away from Glasgow, and a trip to Lisbon in the league stage is a stern early test. With no competitive Europa League form yet logged this season, the Scottish side rely on squad balance and experience rather than recent continental metrics. This makes the expected starting lineup and tactical approach particularly important as they try to contain one of the most free-scoring teams in the competition so far.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica approach this tie in strong shape from a squad perspective. There are no recorded injuries or suspensions for this fixture, so the coach has a full group available. That allows him to lean heavily on the players who have driven their excellent European form, with the league form string LWWDWW and a last-five attacking index of 100% suggesting he will again select an aggressive, front-foot side.

With no significant absences reported, the expectation is for an attack-minded setup that maximises the chemistry between V. Pavlidis, Rafa and the supporting cast of creative midfielders. Benfica have alternated between different shapes this season, including a system with one main striker supported by a line of three, but the constant has been a high-tempo, vertical style that looks to overwhelm opponents, particularly at home.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah, C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. El Karouani
MF: Joāo Palhinha, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis

This predicted lineup is built around Benfica’s proven Europa League core. In attack, V. Pavlidis is an automatic starter: he is the competition’s standout forward so far with 5 goals and 1 assist from just 3 appearances, also appearing at the top of the assists and cards charts. His presence as the focal point allows Benfica to flood the half-spaces with runners like Rafa and J. Kamiński, both of whom feature among the top assist providers.

Behind them, H. Sudakov and L. Barreiro offer technical security and progression from midfield, each already on the assist sheet in this Europa League campaign. Joāo Palhinha adds the necessary defensive balance, screening a back line anchored by C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo – both defenders have already contributed goals in Europe, underlining Benfica’s set-piece threat. A. Bah, also among the assist leaders from full-back, and S. El Karouani are expected to provide width and overlapping runs, making this an aggressive, territory-dominant starting lineup.

Celtic Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Celtic also come into this match without any listed injuries or suspensions, giving the manager full flexibility to select his strongest side. With no Europa League form string registered yet this season and no previous lineups recorded in this competition, the coaching staff must balance experience with mobility to cope with Benfica’s high-intensity approach.

Given the difficulty of the trip to Lisbon and the quality of the opposition, Celtic’s lineups today are expected to be conservative in structure but with clear outlets in wide and central attacking zones. The presence of seasoned defenders such as C. Carter-Vickers and K. Tierney, along with midfield leaders like C. McGregor and A. Oxlade-Chamberlain, points to a side built to absorb pressure and break quickly when opportunities arise.

Celtic Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: V. Sinisalo
DF: A. Johnston, C. Carter-Vickers, L. Scales, K. Tierney
MF: C. McGregor, O. Sørensen, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yang Hyun-Jun, L. McCowan
FW: K. Høgh

Without Europa League top scorers or assist data for Celtic yet, this predicted lineup leans on positional balance and seniority. V. Sinisalo is a logical choice in goal, protected by a back four that combines physicality and experience: A. Johnston and K. Tierney at full-back, with C. Carter-Vickers and L. Scales in central areas. This unit will be tasked with handling Benfica’s wide overloads and Pavlidis’ movement in the box.

In midfield, C. McGregor provides control and tempo, supported by O. Sørensen’s energy and A. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s forward thrust. Wide roles for Yang Hyun-Jun and L. McCowan offer pace and dribbling to exploit transitions, while K. Høgh leads the line as a central reference point. The emphasis will likely be on compactness without the ball, with quick counters targeting spaces behind Benfica’s advanced full-backs.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With neither side listing absentees for this fixture, the tactical narrative is shaped more by selection choices than enforced changes. Both managers can field their strongest possible XIs, which increases the reliability of pre-match analysis around the predicted lineups.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Celtic Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

This clash sets up as a meeting between one of the Europa League’s most explosive attacks and a Celtic side that will likely prioritise structure and discipline. Benfica’s recent record shows 19 goals in their last six European matches, with scoring threats spread across the frontline and even into defence: V. Pavlidis, Rafa, A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán and G. Prestianni have all found the net, while C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo have chipped in from the back. The predicted Benfica starting lineup is therefore built to dominate territory, press high and sustain waves of pressure, especially down the flanks through A. Bah and S. El Karouani.

Celtic, by contrast, enter with a clean slate in this season’s Europa League and no established statistical profile in the competition. That suggests a more reactive game plan: a compact defensive block, with C. Carter-Vickers and L. Scales protecting the central corridor, and full-backs A. Johnston and K. Tierney tasked with limiting crosses into Pavlidis. In midfield, the duel between Joāo Palhinha, H. Sudakov and L. Barreiro against C. McGregor, O. Sørensen and A. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be crucial. If Benfica’s trio can control second balls and keep the tempo high, Celtic may struggle to progress the ball, forcing them into longer passes towards K. Høgh and the wide runners. The comparison indices underline the challenge: Benfica hold a strong overall edge, particularly in attack, while Celtic’s best hope lies in maintaining defensive organisation and exploiting any over-commitment from the Portuguese side.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest Benfica are clear favourites at home. The prediction model gives the hosts a 50% chance of victory, with a 50% probability of a draw and effectively no win probability assigned to Celtic. That aligns with Benfica’s outstanding attacking numbers and recent Europa League form, contrasted with Celtic’s lack of competitive data in this season’s tournament. The overall comparison index also heavily favours Benfica, reflecting their superior attacking output and home dominance.

Given Benfica’s scoring power and the absence of any notable injuries, the expectation is that they will eventually break down Celtic’s resistance, even if the visitors manage to keep the game tight for long spells. With the goals fields not providing a concrete projected scoreline, a conservative but Benfica-favoured outcome is the most reasonable verdict.

Predicted Outcome: Benfica 2–1 Celtic

How to Watch Benfica vs Celtic Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local sports pay-TV channel and main streaming platform
• UK: Premium sports network and associated online player
• USA / North America: Major soccer-focused streaming service
• South America: Regional cable sports network and OTT service
• MENA: Satellite sports broadcaster and official digital app