Though Celtic conceded 4, the scoreline didn’t flatter Benfica. The Portuguese facet created probabilities aplenty in each halves and hit the woodwork twice along with their 4 objectives.
Celtic’s lack of depth in defence was uncovered as soon as once more within the absence of the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers as Gianluca Prestianni and Duran tormented the guests’ again 4.
Nonetheless, it’s in ahead areas the place O’Neill maybe has his greatest headache.
Membership file signing Kasper Hogh was hooked at half-time and has now failed to attain in 10 of his first 11 outings since becoming a member of from Bodo/Glimt in the summertime.
Duran shifted inside for the second half and posed way more of a menace than his Danish team-mate.
“If I am a inventive midfield participant and I’ve bought Duran and Hogh to choose from, I am taking Duran day by day of the week,” former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan mentioned.
“He appears to get off the facet of defenders, in the event you put a ball within the space, he is extra prone to be alive to it.
“Hogh simply is not firing on all cylinders. I can take that if he is doing the opposite facet of the sport lots higher than he’s.
“You possibly can see why Martin O’Neill made the substitution at half-time and there isn’t any doubt Celtic regarded a lot better going ahead.”
O’Neill admitted he sees Duran as being higher by the center, when requested about his Colombian talisman post-match, however given Hogh’s price ticket he may not be inclined to drag him out of the firing line simply but.
“[Duran] has performed extensive at his earlier golf equipment,” O’Neill mentioned. “However I personally really feel his finest place is thru the center.
“It is now a matter of us attempting to suit him in and I feel we are able to do this. It is an actual battle for locations now.”
