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

Benfica welcome Celtic to Lisbon for a UEFA Europa League league-stage clash that already feels significant in the battle for play-off positions. The Portuguese side come into this campaign on the back of a strong continental run, and their recent record in the competition underlines why they are widely expected to control proceedings here. They are listed 4th in the overall league-stage ranking with 0 points so far, but their underlying form and attacking numbers are elite.

Celtic, ranked 9th with 0 points and tagged in the “Play Offs” description zone, are at the start of a new European journey. With no league-stage games played yet and therefore no goals scored or conceded in this Europa League season, the Scottish champions are something of a tactical unknown at this level. That makes predicted lineups particularly important for bettors and analysts trying to read this fixture before official team sheets drop.

Stats suggest Benfica arrive in much better rhythm. Their league form string reads LWWDWW, and their last six Europa outings include 19 goals scored at an average of 3.2 per game, with 14 of those coming at home. With a prediction model giving Benfica a 50% chance to win and the draw also at 50%, Celtic are rated with no outright win probability in the raw percentages. Against that backdrop, the focus turns to the expected starting lineup and how Celtic can contain one of the competition’s most dangerous attacks.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no listed injuries or suspensions for Benfica ahead of this tie, so the hosts are expected to be at full strength. That gives the coach the luxury of choosing from a deep squad that has already produced several standout performers in this Europa League season, particularly in the final third. The recent form run of LWWDWW, combined with high-scoring home fixtures, points towards another attacking-minded selection.

Based on their most frequently used setups in European play, Benfica are expected to line up with a compact but aggressive defensive base and a fluid, high-tempo front line. With no significant absences reported, the manager can lean heavily on the players who dominate the top scorers and top assists charts when building the starting lineup.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This predicted lineup leans into Benfica’s biggest weapons. Up front, V. Pavlidis is the obvious focal point: he is the Europa League’s leading scorer for Benfica with 5 goals and 1 assist from 3 appearances, and he also tops their assists chart. His combination of penalty-box presence and link-up play makes him central to every attacking pattern, and he is expected to spearhead the press against Celtic’s build-up.

Behind him, Rafa, J. Kamiński and H. Sudakov provide creativity and ball progression between the lines. Rafa has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist in the competition, while both Kamiński and Sudakov have chipped in with assists and high involvement in midfield. Deeper, João Palhinha and E. Barrenechea offer ball-winning and distribution, allowing the full-backs A. Bah and S. El Karouani to push on. Bah has already recorded an assist and features among Benfica’s top assist providers, while centre-backs C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo both bring aerial strength and even a goal each in Europe, making them threats on set pieces as well as anchors in a high line.

Celtic Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Celtic also have no officially listed injuries or suspensions for this fixture, so they travel with what appears to be a full squad. With their Europa League league-stage record still blank — no games played, no goals for or against — the Scottish side’s current European level is difficult to benchmark, but the depth of the squad list suggests they can put out a competitive eleven.

With lineups today still to be confirmed, the expectation is that Celtic will prioritise defensive stability in Lisbon, using their experienced core at the back and in central midfield. Given Benfica’s attacking form and scoring volume, the visitors are likely to adopt a cautious, compact shape, relying on transitions and set pieces rather than extended spells of possession.

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

Celtic’s predicted starting lineup is built around their most experienced spine. V. Sinisalo is expected to start in goal, protected by a back four including A. Johnston and K. Tierney in the full-back roles, with C. Carter-Vickers and L. Scales as the central pairing. That unit offers a blend of physicality and mobility that will be crucial against Benfica’s dynamic front line and overlapping full-backs.

In midfield, captain C. McGregor should anchor the centre, supported by O. Sørensen’s energy and A. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s forward thrust. Wide areas are likely to be covered by Yang Hyun-Jun and L. McCowan, both capable of carrying the ball and offering outlets on the counter. Up front, K. Høgh is the expected focal point, with his work rate and movement key to stretching Benfica’s defensive line and creating space for late runners from midfield.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no injuries or suspensions officially listed for either side, absences are not expected to have a direct impact on the tactical balance of this match. Instead, the focus is on selection choices and how each coach rotates within a fully available squad.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Celtic Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted lineups point towards a clash between Benfica’s high-octane attack and a Celtic side likely to sit deeper and protect central spaces. Benfica’s recent Europa League record is formidable: 19 goals in 6 games, with an average of 4.7 goals scored per home match. Their goals are well distributed across the 90 minutes, with notable spikes just before half-time and in the final quarter of games. With V. Pavlidis, Rafa, A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán and G. Prestianni all on the scoresheet in this competition, Benfica can rotate heavily in the attacking positions without losing goal threat.

Celtic, by contrast, enter with a clean statistical slate in this Europa League campaign. That makes the comparison indices telling: the overall comparison index reads 73.5 for Benfica against 26.5 for Celtic, with Benfica dominating the attack index and form index. The only area where Celtic can claim parity is in the defensive index, which is rated in their favour in the comparison model despite the lack of recent European data. Practically, that should translate into Celtic trying to keep the game narrow, forcing Benfica wide and relying on Carter-Vickers and Scales to deal with crosses, while McGregor and Sørensen screen the back four. Benfica’s full-backs A. Bah and S. El Karouani, plus creative midfielders like Sudakov and Kamiński, will be key to pulling that block apart with switches of play and underlapping runs.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All the available indicators lean towards a Benfica-dominated contest. Their recent Europa League form (LWWDWW), combined with a prolific attack and a deep pool of in-form forwards and attacking midfielders, gives them a clear edge. Celtic’s lack of recent European data means their ceiling is uncertain, but from a betting and analytical perspective, the safer assumption is that they will struggle to impose themselves away in Lisbon.

The prediction model assigns Benfica a 50% chance of victory, the draw also at 50%, and Celtic at 0%. While the goals fields are not usable as a direct scoreline guide here, the direction of travel is clear: Benfica are favoured to win, with Celtic’s best hope likely being to grind out a low-scoring draw. Given Benfica’s home scoring rate, however, a narrow home win 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: To be confirmed by local broadcasters closer to kick-off
• UK: To be confirmed by local broadcasters closer to kick-off
• USA / North America: To be confirmed by regional sports networks or streaming platforms
• South America: To be confirmed by continental sports broadcasters
• MENA: To be confirmed by regional rights holders