Benfica vs Celtic: Europa League Preview, Form and How to Follow Live

Benfica host Celtic in the UEFA Europa League league phase on Thursday, 15 October 2026, with kickoff at 22:00 EAT (19:00 UTC / 20:00 BST / 20:00 Lisbon time). Benfica sit eighth after an opening win at AC Milan and arrive on the back of four wins in five. Celtic, beaten 3-1 at home by Ferencváros on matchday one, are 28th and need points quickly. Here's your complete guide to the match.

Benfica vs Celtic: Match Details

• Competition: UEFA Europa League 2026-27 (league phase)
• Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026
• Kickoff: 22:00 East Africa Time / 19:00 UTC / 20:00 UK time / 20:00 Portugal time
• Home team: Benfica
• Formations listed: 4-3-3 for both sides

Live scores, lineups and stats will appear on the Benfica vs Celtic match page on Score808 once the game begins. For every fixture and the full table, visit the UEFA Europa League hub.

Europa League Table Before Kickoff

Benfica are eighth with 3 points from one game, level on points and goal difference with Bayer Leverkusen and OFI, so they hold the last of the top-eight places by the slimmest of margins. Celtic are 28th with no points and a goal difference of -2. Under the 36-team league-phase format, the top eight go straight to the last 16, while teams from ninth to 24th enter the knockout playoff round, so every goal counts.

Benfica's Form: Four Wins in Five

Benfica have won 4 and lost 1 of their last five. Their recent results:

• 11 Oct: Benfica 2-0 Vitória de Guimarães (win)
• 20 Sep: FC Porto 3-1 Benfica (loss)
• 16 Sep: AC Milan 0-2 Benfica (win, Europa League)
• 13 Sep: Benfica 3-1 Gil Vicente (win)
• 9 Sep: Moreirense 0-4 Benfica (win)

They've scored 12 goals and conceded four in those five games, and three of the four wins came with clean sheets. The defeat at Porto is the only blemish. Georgiy Sudakov's 75th-minute goal sealed the latest win, as shown in the Benfica goal highlights. Read the Benfica vs Vitória de Guimarães result or the AC Milan vs Benfica report for more.

Celtic's Form: Narrow Wins, Costly Defeats

Celtic have won 3 and lost 2 of their last five. Their recent results:

• 11 Oct: Motherwell 0-2 Celtic (win)
• 20 Sep: Celtic 0-1 Rangers (loss)
• 17 Sep: Celtic 1-3 Ferencváros (loss, Europa League)
• 9 Sep: St Johnstone 0-1 Celtic (win)
• 5 Sep: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic (win)

Celtic's wins have mostly come by a single goal, and they've scored just six in five games. Their two defeats were both at home, to Rangers and Ferencváros, so they'll be glad to be on the road, where all three of their recent wins came. Ferencváros, the team that beat them, are in action the same night in the Ferencváros vs Viktoria Plzeň preview. See the Celtic vs Ferencváros result or the Motherwell vs Celtic report for more.

Key Questions for This Match

1. Can Celtic cope with Benfica's attack? Benfica have scored 12 in five and beat AC Milan 2-0 away in this competition.
2. Can Celtic turn road form into a result? All three of their recent wins came away from home.
3. Can Benfica protect a top-eight place? They're level with two teams on points and goal difference, so margins matter.
4. How will Celtic respond to the opening defeat? A 3-1 home loss leaves them under pressure to score.

What This Means for the Table

• A Benfica win would take them to 6 points and strengthen their grip on a top-eight spot.
• A Celtic win would lift them to 3 points and out of the bottom ten on points.
• A draw would give Benfica 4 points and Celtic their first point, which helps neither side's ambitions.

With only the second game played, nothing is decided, but early points shape the race for the top eight.

Head-to-Head

The match page doesn't show any head-to-head data at the moment, so check the Score808 match page for updates as kickoff approaches.

How to Follow Benfica vs Celtic Live

At the time of writing, the match page shows that the live stream and statistics aren't available yet. They typically appear once the game kicks off. Return to the match page at kickoff for live updates, lineups and stats. The same night, you can also read the Celta Vigo vs Juventus preview, the Marseille vs Olympiacos preview, the Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz preview and the Rennes vs OFI Crete preview, or browse the news section for more football coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is Benfica vs Celtic?
Kickoff is at 22:00 East Africa Time on Thursday, 15 October 2026, which is 19:00 UTC, 20:00 in the UK and 20:00 in Portugal.

Which competition is this match part of?
It's a UEFA Europa League 2026-27 league-phase fixture.

Where do Benfica and Celtic sit in the table?
Benfica are eighth with 3 points from one game. Celtic are 28th with no points from one game.

What was each team's last result?
Benfica beat Vitória de Guimarães 2-0 at home on 11 October. Celtic won 2-0 at Motherwell on the same day.

Where can I follow the match live?
Live updates, lineups and statistics will appear on the Score808 match page once the game starts.

Final Word

Benfica have the form, home advantage and a place in the top eight to defend, while Celtic have a record of winning on the road and a pressing need for points. Expect a tense European night with real stakes this early in the league phase. Bookmark the match page and check back after the final whistle for the result and updated table.