CELTIC WENT top of the Scottish Premiership last in an emphatic 3-0 0ld-firm win over cross-town rivals Rangers at Celtic Park last night.
A double from Reo Hatate followed by a third from Liel Abada gave Ange Postecoglou's young side and packed, 60,000-strong house at Parkhead a memorable win.
Postecoglou's side were excellent throughout the first half and never let Rangers rest on the ball. The Gers were second best for large parts of the first half.
Celtic, who had their first win against their close rivals in six league games, made a superb start when Rangers cleared Matt O'Riley's corner directly to Hatate whose deflected shot from the edge of the box whizzed beyond the hapless Allan McGregor.
McGregor who was at fault for the goals in the 3-3 draw against Ross County last weekend came to Rangers rescue when he made a double save to firmly deny Jota's stinging strike. The rebound fell to Giorgos Giakoumakis whose header was brilliantly saved. The Greek striker had been thwarted a number of times by McGregor.
Celtic, against the run of play nearly conceded a goal when Joe Aribo found space in the box and threaded the ball through to Scott Arfield, Joe Hart was quicker than the Scot.
It was moments later when a sweeping move down the right ended with Hatate curling an effort beyond McGregor to make it 2-0 on 27 minutes.
Celtic fans were sent into jubilation minutes later when Abada got in on the action to make it 3-0 before half-time. Hatate looped over a cross and, with the Rangers defense sleeping, the forward stabbed the ball into the net to send fans wild.
🇮🇱 | Liel Abada - Celtic
1️⃣3️⃣ Goals
0️⃣9️⃣ Assists
2️⃣2️⃣ Goal contributions
A goal or assist every 1️⃣1️⃣5️⃣ minutes
TWENTY YEARS OLD... incredible 💚pic.twitter.com/PBZcShKEvR— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) February 2, 2022
The second half didn't show the same intensity as the first and Rangers got more of the ball when Ryan Jack entered the field, but the game was won in the first half.
Arfield flashed over from the edge of the area and Jack crashed a long-range effort off the crossbar to end a miserable night for Rangers.
Celtic were six points behind a fortnight ago and now are in the driving seat to win the title with 14 games to go.
After the game Postecoglou said this his Celtic side have plenty to improve on despite the win"
"We're not the finished article. We've changed the whole team. Guys have come in without having a bedding-in process. We've got some quality players unavailable at the moment. We're going to be stronger, we have to be stronger and we want to be stronger. That's the key for us. We want to be better.
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst suffered 5-1 and 6-2 defeats at Celtic Park as a player said:
We had an honest conversation in the locker room after the game, it's obvious we weren't the way we wanted.
"These kinds of games are always difficult. All we have to do is stick together and make sure we look forward and be ready for Sunday against Hearts.
"It's a very tough environment to come to, but we're not the first Rangers team to lose. I lost very big here when I was a player but we eventually became champions that year.
Motherwell hosts Celtic on Sunday while Hearts visit Rangers on the same day at 4pm this weekend.
🟢𝑷𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆⚪️
A 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 from the Celts in the first Glasgow Derby of 2022! 👊🍀#CELRAN | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 2, 2022
