PERTH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Celtic's Callum McGregor celebrates scoring to make it 4-0 during a William Hill Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park, on September 28, 2024, in Perth, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic turned in their best domestic performance of the season to beat St Johnstone 6-0 and leapfrog Aberdeen back into top place in the SPFL Premiership.
A far tougher challenge lies ahead on Tuesday away to Borussia Dortmund but the team flies out to Germany brimming with confidence as they put their 100% record on the line.
It took Celtic until the 35th minute to open the scoring but after Kyogo Furuhashi made the breakthrough the hoops went in at the break leading 3-0 with the only remaining question being- How many?
Inbetween a double from the Japanese striker Paulo Bernardo scored Celtic’s second with the former Benfica man looking likely to pitch in 8-10 goals a season.
2? Kyogo with a brace
©? McGregor scores again
? Bernardo, Maeda & Idah on targetWatch the goals as Celtic hit SIX past St Johnstone to top the Scottish Premiership ?? pic.twitter.com/FrC5KFpIpA
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 28, 2024
Alex Valle replaced Greg Taylor at the break, a precautionary measure with the Barcelona loanee playing a full part in the second half including an incredible assist in the sixth goal which demonstrated the extent of the confidence that Celtic are playing with.
Before that strike in the 83rd minute the familiar names of Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda were on the scoresheet- the skipper with a low effort from 20 yards followed by a diving header from the Japanese internationalist.
Seven minutes from time three substitutes combined in a goal which demonstrates how quickly they have been integrated into the ways of their new club.
A precision chip from Luke McCowan produced a perfectly timed run by Valle who back-heeled the ball to Adam Idah who slotted his shot wide of the keeper to take his total for the season to four goals.
Dortmund on Tuesday will be very different challenge but Celtic will go there with there full of confidence, very close to their A game.
We all know that Tuesday night will be different kettle of fish, but let’s give this Celtic team a lot of praise for the football we are playing! If we can produce half of what we are capable of,we will be okey, I will settle for a draw, but I think we will go for a win!!, and we should go for the win as we are a very good team going forward and I don’t think the Germans will have had such a fast team come at them!! Go on Celts show them the real Celtic. Hail Hail.
I watched the match last night and CELTIC played excellent football… All the referees didn’t….. the referee on the pitch went to the monitor at VAR’s behest checked the “goal” and disallowed it..so…as the incident had nothing to do with the “goal” it has to have been deemed deliberate…and…was off the ball…no action was taken…mmmmm I wonder what wee willie will say
Is VAR just for checking Celtic goals in the hope of disallowing them. If Trusty had gone down after getting barged into would it have been a penalty?