NafisaCeltic’s painful night in Lisbon could leave Martin O’Neill with another problem to solve, with fresh concerns emerging over one of his midfielders just days before a crucial domestic fixture.
The Hoops suffered a 4-1 defeat to Benfica on Thursday, leaving Portugal without a point from their opening two Europa League league-phase matches.
The result exposed familiar defensive weaknesses, while the team’s improved second-half performance offered only limited consolation after three goals had already been conceded before the interval.
However, the scoreline may not be the only concern occupying O’Neill’s mind as Celtic prepare for their trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle.
According to German outlet Kicker, Mika Baur appeared to leave the pitch with a thigh issue during the defeat. The midfielder was substituted in the 57th minute, and the report that his thigh had been bandaged has raised questions about his availability for Sunday.
There has been no confirmed diagnosis in the information available, meaning the seriousness of the apparent problem remains unclear. Nevertheless, the timing is far from ideal for a Celtic side looking to respond quickly after their European disappointment.
Baur Injury Concern Emerges After Benfica Defeat
Baur started the match at the Estádio da Luz as O’Neill looked to get Celtic’s European campaign back on track following their opening defeat to Ferencváros.
The midfielder showed some encouraging signs early on, attempting to drive his team forward despite Benfica taking the lead through Jhon Durán’s penalty inside the opening five minutes.
One of Baur’s more promising contributions came when he carried the ball through midfield before finding Kasper Høgh. The forward worked an effort from a tight angle, but Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was able to make the save.
Baur also tested Trubin himself as Celtic attempted to settle into the contest.
Unfortunately for the visitors, their early attacking moments were not enough to prevent Benfica from taking control. Alexander Bah doubled the hosts’ advantage before Durán scored again to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Kicker subsequently noted the midfielder’s condition during its live coverage, reporting: “Baur now leaves the pitch with a bandaged thigh.”
That observation has prompted understandable concern, although it does not establish whether Baur suffered a significant injury or whether the bandage was precautionary.
O’Neill Faces Another Selection Question
Baur was replaced in the 57th minute, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain entering the contest as part of a double substitution that also saw Benjamin Nygren introduced.
The timing of the change, combined with Kicker’s report, will naturally leave Celtic supporters wondering whether the midfielder will be available for the weekend.
At this stage, however, there is no confirmed indication that Baur will miss the Hearts match. Celtic will need to assess his condition before a clearer picture emerges.
Any absence would nevertheless be an unwanted complication for O’Neill, who must balance the need to respond domestically with the physical demands placed on his squad during a busy schedule.
Baur had offered some useful forward movement during the opening stages in Lisbon, and Celtic will want to establish whether he can continue contributing in the coming fixtures.
The immediate priority will be determining the extent of the apparent thigh problem rather than drawing conclusions from the substitution alone.
Celtic Show Improvement but Benfica Damage Remains
Celtic did produce a more encouraging performance after the interval, with O’Neill making changes to bring greater pace and directness into the attack.
Haissem Hassan and Callum Osmand were introduced at half-time, and both helped Celtic cause Benfica more problems. Hassan eventually created the visitors’ goal, delivering the ball into the box for Camilo Durán to head home.
Osmand also provided movement in behind the defence, giving Celtic an attacking outlet that had been missing for much of the first half.
But the improvement could not erase the mistakes that had put the game beyond Celtic’s immediate reach. Benfica remained dangerous and eventually scored a fourth through Vangelis Pavlidis late on.
The defeat leaves Celtic with significant work to do in the Europa League, while the apparent concern surrounding Baur adds another issue to monitor after an already frustrating evening.
Hearts Clash Comes at a Difficult Time
Celtic now turn their attention to Sunday’s league match against Hearts, with little time to recover from the trip to Portugal.
O’Neill will need his players to regroup quickly, particularly after a first half in which defensive mistakes proved so costly. The manager must also establish which members of his squad are fit enough to feature at Tynecastle.
Baur’s condition is therefore worth watching, although supporters should be cautious about treating the report as confirmation of a serious injury.
The midfielder’s substitution and the observation from Kicker provide grounds for concern, but further assessment is needed before his availability can be determined.
For Celtic, the priority is clear: respond to the Benfica defeat, prepare properly for Hearts and hope the latest injury concern proves less serious than feared.
Baur’s fitness is now one to monitor ahead of Sunday, but until Celtic provide a clearer update, his participation against Hearts remains uncertain.
Nafisa
