Just nine miles from the scene of Celtic’s greatest-ever triumph, yet another damaging chapter in their recent European history was written.
Martin O’Neill’s side were beaten 4-1 by Portuguese giants Benfica at Estadio da Luz, with goals from Jhon Duran, Alexander Bah, and Vangelis Pavilidis sealing a convincing Europa League victory for Marco Silva and company.
Duran's Panenka-esque penalty broke the deadlock three minutes in, with Bah doubling the hosts' lead in the 23rd minute. Duran beat Viljami Sinisalo at his near post for his second, and Benfica's third, nine minutes from the interval.
Camilo Duran got one back for Celtic just after the hour mark when he flicked home Haissem Hassan's cross from the right-hand side, but it wasn't enough to escape a third defeat in four matches, with Pavilidis adding Benfica's fourth in the dying embers.
Here are the key talking points from Lisbon…
The start of nightmares
Away from home in Europe against elite opposition, the key is usually riding out the first half hour. Celtic barely lasted five minutes in Lisbon.
Dane Murray, who kept his place in the side after O'Neill brought Auston Trusty in ahead of Liam Scales at central defence, has a storied history of high-profile errors in games of significance. His concession of a penalty in this one's infancy was yet another.
Benfica's Duran received the ball inside the 18-yard box amid an early onslaught. Murray swiped for the ball, only to connect with the striker's legs. Duran fell straight to the ground and referee Nikola Dabanovic quickly pointed to the spot. Celtic generally, and Murray specifically, had no complaints.
Despite Sinisalo's best efforts to distract Duran, the Colombian converted with utmost nonchalance, delightfully dinking his spot-kick straight down the middle as the goalkeeper committed to his left.
Before long, Benfica had another. Gianluca Prestiani, a constant threat on the left flank, lifted a delightful cross into the back post for Bah to side-foot home.
If Murray was guilty for the hosts' opener, Sebastian Tounekti was equally to blame for their second, standing still as his man, Bah, ghosted in to score. Two down with less than half an hour gone, Celtic had it all to do.
Hogh's goal drought continues
A Rugby Park hat-trick-aside, Hogh's Celtic career has been permeated with missed chances, poor link-up play, and above all, disappointment. Before tonight, he'd gone 12 appearances for both club and country without a goal, sparking widespread debate about his record-breaking summer transfer to Glasgow.
Celtic paid a fee in excess of £11million for Hogh, who was, especially in European competition for former club Bodo/Glimt, a penalty-box predator. So often this season, though, Celtic have gone long to the 25-year-old, utilising him as an archetypal target man.
In Lisbon, Hogh wasn't required to hold the play up consistently, and he did have several opportunities to end his goal drought.
Shortly after Benfica opened the scoring, he tested opposition goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin with a left-footed effort from close range, forcing the Ukrainian into a low save with his boot.
Then, in the minutes following Bah's strike, he hit the post from four yards out, connecting well with Tounekti's deep cross.
If ever a striker needed to score, it's Hogh. He recorded an assist last Sunday at Motherwell but goals alter perceptions. There'd be no better time to end the drought than this weekend against Hearts.
How did Celtic approach this one?
There was a marked change in Celtic’s approach at Fir Park on Sunday. Compared to before the three-week international break, they had a coherent idea of how to approach the match, building possession through the pitch, culminating in effective attacking combinations in the final third. Celtic dominated their opponents and should really have scored more than just two goals.
Benfica, though, are an entirely different prospect to Motherwell. The Portuguese heavyweights defeated AC Milan at San Siro last time out in the Europa League, with high-quality international players peppered across Silva’s squad.
How O’Neill approached this one, then, held great intrigue. The Celtic manager set his team up in a familiar 4-3-3 formation, and early on, they looked to play through the lines.
Come the 36th minute, though, when Benfica scored their third of the evening, the visitors turned into damage-limitation mode, and little wonder.
Oliver Sorensen, in just for his third start since joining Celtic on loan from Parma in the summer, offered little in midfield. By the break, he'd had only 15 touches of the ball – Callum McGregor registered 39 by the same juncture, with Mika Baur boasting 26.
His subpar display was symbolic of Celtic's on a night few in the travelling party will remember fondly.
Duran a rare positive
Celtic can solace from at least drawing the second half one apiece. O'Neill introduced Callum Osmand and Hassan at the break as Tounekti and Hogh came off.
Whether their improved display is a consequence of Benfica taking the proverbial foot off the gas is a pertinent consideration, but the Scottish champions played slightly better as the game progressed.
Duran's goal gave them a new lease of life. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then slid the Colombian, who shifted to play as a central striker after Hogh's withdrawal, through shortly after, only for his effort, that would've made it 3-2, to hit the post. Fine margins.
Duran now has eight goals for the season. Celtic's top scorer is their one continued positive in both victory and defeat.
Yes, Benfica still attacked in numbers in the second 45, and Celtic rode their luck at times, but if O'Neill's looking for any encouragement, the second half should be his destination.
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Next up, Hearts
Even the most optimistic Celtic observers expected little here. When the Europa League draw was made last month, unlike ties against the likes of Torreense and Omonia Nicosia, few had this down as a banker for points. It was Celtic’s toughest game of the league phase, and with good reason – Benfica hadn’t lost at Estadio da Luz since February and are rightly one of the favourites to lift the Europa League trophy in Istanbul next May.
They spent upwards of £55m during the summer transfer window, earning over £121m through various departures.
Although victory was unlikely, performance mattered. Celtic flattered to deceive before the international break yet recovered against Motherwell on Sunday. Maintaining some form of positive momentum ahead of Sunday’s clash with Hearts was crucial.
Instead, O’Neill’s chargers really struggled in Lisbon. Yet another European humbling – Celtic’s third of the season following losses to both LASK and Ferencvaros – hardly helps going into this weekend.
But there’d be no better way to repair the mood than beating Hearts, and thus carving an eight-point lead over last season’s runners-up midway through October. Easier said than done, though.
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