Watch Benfica v Celtic with Rory Hamilton and Neil Lennon on HBO Max and TNT Sports

The 15 October 2026 UEFA Europa League match, a clash between Benfica and Celtic, goes live at 20:00 UK time. Two broadcast channels are carrying the action, and both bring their own line-up of presenters and commentators for the occasion. The HBO Max feed, available in the UK only, runs alongside TNT Sports 3 HD for those in Britain, while the Republic of Ireland is covered by Premier Sports 1 HD. A TNT Sports highlights reel rounds out the evening for anyone who wants the condensed version.

The main commentary duties fall to Rory Hamilton, who is present on both the HBO Max and TNT Sports channels. He is joined by Neil Lennon as co-commentator, and the pair share the highlights feed on TNT Sports as well. Adding to the mix are two further pundits, Craig Halkett and Stiliyan Petrov, with Emma Dodds standing in as presenter on the HBO Max channel.

The channels and who is on them

On HBO Max, Emma Dodds is the presenter steering the UK broadcast, with Rory Hamilton and Neil Lennon doing the commentary and Craig Halkett alongside Stiliyan Petrov as the pundits. The reporter on duty is Becky Ives. TNT Sports 3 HD mirrors the same commentary team for British viewers, and TNT Sports carries the highlights from Rory Hamilton and Neil Lennon.

The Republic of Ireland gets its own coverage on Premier Sports 1 HD. Sarah Mulkerrins presents, with George Hamilton as main commentator and Gary Breen as co-commentator. Kenny Cunningham and Richard Dunne round out the pundit list on that channel.

Background on the key names

Neil Lennon has a long history in the sport, and his Wikipedia page traces his club career from Leicester City through to Celtic and beyond. A Reddit thread from April 2026 discusses him as an "average" manager, reflecting the kind of fan debate that surrounds such figures. He was also named as a solid midfield anchor alongside Stiliyan Petrov in a January 2018 piece, which described the two as players who could protect the line.

Stiliyan Petrov is regarded as one of Bulgaria's greatest-ever footballers, having earned 106 international matches. A Facebook post from August 2026 welcomed him to a charity match, and his Wikipedia page lists his appearances with the Aston Villa team coach. He has been described in fan circles as "the tiger in the grass", a nod to his reputation for holding a strong midfield position.

Craig Halkett, known in full as Craig Peter Halkett, is a Scottish international footballer. His WhoScored profile lists him as a defender in the centre, and his Sofascore page records the many matches he has taken part in. A Wikipedia entry confirms his participation in a Scottish Football Association event, retrieved in October 2015.

Emma Dodds, the presenter on HBO Max, has a modest online presence under the handle @Sports_EmmaD. A post from December 2025 shows her noting a Celtic v Roma match on TNT Sports 3 alongside Johan Mjallby and Stiliyan Petrov, suggesting she is used to working across the TNT Sports family of channels.

Where to watch

British viewers can follow the Benfica v Celtic match on HBO Max in the UK only, or on TNT Sports 3 HD. The highlights are also available through TNT Sports for those who prefer a quicker rundown. Republic of Ireland-based viewers should tune into Premier Sports 1 HD for their coverage.

For background on one of the commentators featured in this match, the Wikipedia page for Neil Lennon is a useful starting point.

Article generated: 14 October 2026, 20:07 GMT