Scottish Premiership
Saturday, September 3, 2022
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 4
(Abada 8 & 40, Jota 32, Turnbull 79)

RANGERS… 0

Celtic delivered a derby day masterclass to beat 4-0 Rangers and go five points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

Liel Abada hit a double, while there were also goals for Jota and David Turnbull as Ange Postecoglou’s side continued their 100 per cent start to the season

The game had barely started when Celtic were forced to make a change. Kyogo appeared to pick up a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by Guirgios Giakoumakis.

That didn’t disrupt the flow of the game, as Ange Postecoglou’s team pushed forward and they opened the scoring after just eight minutes.

Matt O’Riley’s cross from the left was deflected into the path of Liel Abada, and the Israeli’s low shot from 10 yards out was too powerful for the Rangers goalkeeper, Jon McLaughlin, despite getting a hand to the ball.

Paradise erupted, and the Hoops pressed for a second goal, with both O’Riley and Giakoumakis having efforts which were just wide.

Celtic were dangerous all over the pitch, with Abada and Jota causing problems on the flanks, while O’Riley’s incisive passes were causing the home side problems.

And in the centre of the park, Callum McGregor was orchestrating the team, ably assisted by Reo Hatate.

Indeed, it took Rangers until the 22nd minute to register their first effort when Antonio Colak headed a Borna Barisic cross wide from six yards out. And five minutes later, John Lundstrum had a shot from the edge of the area that was high and wide.

With 32 minutes on the clock, Celtic doubled their lead and it was a goal of breathtaking beauty.

O’Riley carved the Rangers defence open with a pinpoint pass which was expertly controlled by Jota, and from a tight angle on the right-hand side of the six-yard box, the Portuguese winger produced an exquisite chip over the keeper to make it 2-0.

And with three minutes of the first half remaining, Celtic made it 3-0. Greg Taylor’s cutback from the left was edged on by O’Riley, and from eight yards out, Abada drilled the ball home for his second of the afternoon.

Derby delight as Celtic pile on the agony and put on the style