Sport

Marco Silva announces significant changes for the Benfica-Celtic match

Benfica's coach, Marco Silva, confirms changes for the clash against Celtic in the Europa League, highlighting absences and a new formation.

15 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Marco Silva announces significant changes for the Benfica-Celtic match — Photo: Glasgow Celtic · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Marco Silva, coach of Benfica, announced that his team will face Celtic in the Europa League with several changes to the squad. According to various reports, Benfica will have four confirmed absences for this match, affecting the coach's plans. These absences follow Benfica's recent victory over V. Guimarães in the national league, which boosted the team's motivation to enter the European competition.

Silva emphasized the importance of maintaining the team's good performance during this stage of the Europa League. He also mentioned his intent to implement some rotation in the squad, a practice that was successfully utilized in the previous win in Milan. The coach stated he aims for a balanced approach to maximize the chances of winning against Celtic, a respected opponent in European competitions.

In addition to the absences, the coach confirmed that goalkeeper Uleksiy Trubin will be the starter for the match, marking a strategic decision considering the historical usage of the players. Silva will seek to align the team in a way that optimizes performance, even with the current limitations in the squad.

Archive photo: Marco Silva announces significant changes for the Benfica-Celtic match — Archive photoPhoto: Ciaran Roarty · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Reports indicate that Marco Silva may make up to six changes to the starting lineup compared to the last match, which would result in a significant alteration in the team's dynamics and attack. This strategy aims to fully leverage the capabilities of the available players and create surprises in the opponent's formation.

Expectations are high for this encounter, as they aim to secure a second victory in this phase of the Europa League. The coach stressed that the team must enter the field with a winning mentality, despite challenges such as confirmed absences and changes in formation.

The match between Benfica and Celtic is scheduled for today at 8:00 PM and is a focal point in determining Benfica's course in the Europa League. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the coach will handle the adversities and what the outcomes of his strategic choices will be in this important clash.

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