Celtic face Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Thursday evening in their first away fixture of the Europa League league phase. Martin O'Neill's side are aiming to get their campaign up and running after a tame 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros before the international break, a result sandwiched between two Old Firm defeats.
Benfica's European pedigree
Marco Silva's Benfica were the highest ranked team of all this season's European qualifying rounds, a status that Hearts found out to their cost. The Jambos suffered a 6-1 hammering at the same venue just a couple of months ago, and the Portuguese giants later dismantled Hearts 7-2 on aggregate in the Third Qualifying Round of this competition.
With just over 68,000 fans expected in attendance, the atmosphere in the Portuguese capital is set to be intense. Benfica's squad depth is the envy of many in continental competition, with top marksman Vangelis Pavlidis and sharpshooting Jhon Duran among the attacking options, while Australian international Alessandro Circati is waiting in the wings should Clement Lenglet be rested.
Celtic's Lisbon connections
Many Celtic fans who have travelled to Lisbon have made a pilgrimage to the Estadio Nacional, the site of the club's finest hour when they became the first British club to lift the European Cup back in 1967. Martin O'Neill spoke with great pride at his pre-match press conference about watching the Lisbon Lions conquer Europe as a schoolboy in boarding school, little knowing he would go on to play with one of those heroes just a few years down the line.
Celtic's team news is set to make interesting reading, with club-record signing Kasper Hogh competing with Shim Mheuka for a starting berth, and Dane Murray or Auston Trusty expected to deputise at the back in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Late dash and supporter warning
Colombian sharp-shooter Camilo Duran faces a late Lisbon dash to be ready for tonight's match after being given permission to delay his travel following the birth of his second child. The former Qarabag attacker has been in superb form since his arrival this summer.
Benfica have released a statement urging fans to follow the team responsibly amid a suspended supporter ban that hangs over the club's head. The club reiterated the call to keep their passionate support in line with UEFA rules and regulations ahead of the visit of Martin O'Neill's side, having issued a similar warning in July before their first home qualifier of the season against Swiss side St Gallen. The statement reads: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica is subject to a suspended sanction in European competitions. In this context, the use of pyrotechnics or any other behavior that violates UEFA regulations will automatically result in the application of the penalty, preventing Benfica fans from attending the next European away game."
