Callum McGregor admitted Celtic left themselves with too much to do after a poor first half in the 4-1 defeat to Benfica.

Benfica were 3-0 up at half-time in Lisbon, with Celtic punished badly for loose moments on the ball and defensive mistakes.

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Celtic did improve after the break and Camilo Durán pulled one back, but the damage had already been done.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, McGregor said: “Yeah, obviously, it’s a disappointing result. You’re obviously here to try and get points and try and win.

“But, yeah, you’re playing against a really good side with really good quality in the final third. I think the first half, we didn’t really help ourselves in terms of certain forced errors that lead to the goal.

“But the second half gives us a little bit to hang on to in terms of performance.

“We scored one, probably could score another couple as well. So, I think probably a game of two halves.”

Celtic’s night started badly when Dane Murray conceded an early penalty, which Jhon Durán converted with a Panenka.

Alexander Bah then made it 2-0 before Durán added Benfica’s third before the break.

McGregor felt Celtic were not completely out of the game in possession, but admitted the mistakes made the scoreline hard to recover from.

He said: “Yeah, I guess in terms of the scoring, I actually think the team was okay.

“We actually had the ball. We tried to show our personality on the ball and tried to get playing.

“But it was then just the unforced errors after that that lead to the second and third goal.

“And that does give you a mountain to climb at half-time. But I think the team reset themselves reasonably well at half-time.”

Celtic now face a difficult road in the league phase, with no points from their first two games.

The format gives teams eight matches, but Celtic have already used up two difficult nights without putting anything on the board.

McGregor said: “Yeah, of course.

“We need to try and get enough points to qualify from the table phase of the competition. With the eight games, it gives you slightly longer, just in case you don’t have a good start.

“But like you said, now the onus is on us.”

Celtic return to domestic action against Hearts at the weekend, and the captain knows the league now becomes the immediate focus.

He said: “Yeah, they’re all big games.

“But like you said, especially coming off the back of European games, the league is our bread and butter. We have to continue to win games in that.

“It was a good performance at the weekend, a good victory. You come here, some nice signs in the game in terms of against a really high-level opponent.

“But ultimately, the slackness with the ball is the bit that kills us and makes it really difficult. So, disappointed with the result.

“But there’s probably aspects there that we still quite like of the second half.

“But again, when you don’t come home with any points, then it’s always disappointing.”

The second-half response in Lisbon was real, but Benfica had already taken full control by then.

At this level, Celtic can have decent spells and still be heavily punished if they give opponents that much space and that many chances to attack a stretched back line.