SL Benfica vs Celtic FC Tickets

Adored by their loyal supporters, SL Benfica and Celtic FC are two clubs that have tasted success in the European Cup, a competition now known as the UEFA Champions League.

Based in the beautiful city of Lisbon, SL Benfica have won plenty of silverware, both in domestic and European football. They’ve won more Primeira Liga titles than any other Portuguese club and have etched their name into history books about European football.

Benfica won back-to-back European Cups in 1961 and 1962, beating FC Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Despite their illustrious history, Benfica has been unable to add a third European trophy to their collection. They’ve reached eight major European finals since 1962, but have lost all eight of them. Legend has it that former manager Bela Guttman cursed the club after being denied a salary increase in 1962, allegedly saying, "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champions again."

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Celtic FC is a football powerhouse renowned for its domestic supremacy alongside arch-rivals Rangers. They each boast more than 50 Scottish Premiership titles.

Celtic's prowess, however, extends beyond Scotland's borders, with their crowning achievement coming in 1967. Guided by the legendary manager Jock Stein, Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1 in a memorable European Cup final. In recent years, Celtic has been a regular contender in the UEFA Champions League thanks to their domestic dominance. Yet, progressing to the tournament's latter stages has proven to be very challenging for the Bhoys.

One notable highlight was their journey to the round of 16 during the 2012/13 season, where they stunned the football world by defeating the formidable FC Barcelona 2-1 in the group stage. They were unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League by Juventus.

SL Benfica vs Celtic FC Head to Head

Benfica and Celtic have crossed paths on multiple occasions in UEFA's premier club competition, crafting a rich history of their own. Their initial encounter unfolded during the 1970 European Cup second round, in a two-legged tie that was ultimately decided by a coin toss. Celtic triumphed 3-0 in the first-leg but succumbed to the same scoreline in Lisbon. In the absence of penalty shootouts, the referee's coin toss resulted in a Celtic victory.

Subsequent clashes took place in the UEFA Champions League group stage during the 2006/07, 2007/08, and 2012/13 seasons. Celtic has remained unbeaten at home against Benfica, while the Portuguese outfit have won every meeting at the Estádio da Luz.

SL Benfica vs Celtic FC Connections

Portuguese winger Jota has represented both clubs, initially joining Celtic on loan from Benfica during the 2021/22 season. His impressive stint earned him a permanent transfer to Parkhead at the end of the season. Jota continued to thrive at Celtic Park before securing a big-money move to Saudi club Al-Ittihad in July 2023.

Another Portuguese forward, Jorge Cadete, flourished in Glasgow. Cadete's Celtic journey commenced in 1996 when he signed from Sporting CP. He was unstoppable in Scotland and scored an impressive 38 goals in 47 appearances. Cadete made a return to Portugal in 1998, this time donning the colours of Benfica, although he struggled to make a lasting impact at the club.