Celtic delivered a devastating attacking performance to thrash Heart of Midlothian 7-1 at Celtic Park on Sunday. The emphatic victory extends their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to four points, with the team now on 24 points from nine games and claiming a formidable recent form of five wins and a draw from their last six league matches. This result solidifies their first-place standing, built on a record of eight wins and one loss from their nine league fixtures.
Kieran Tierney opened the scoring after seven minutes, finishing from a Liam Scales pass. Benjamin Nygren added a second just three minutes later, set up by Dane Murray. Callum Osmand then struck twice in quick succession, both times assisted by Camilo Duran, to make it 4-0. Laurent Mendy pulled one back for Hearts before the break, but a Jamie McCart own goal in first-half stoppage time restored Celtic's four-goal cushion.
Duran, who now has four goals in eight appearances this season and is the club's top scorer, scored Celtic's sixth early in the second half from a Tierney pass. Nygren completed the rout with his second of the day late on, assisted by substitute Kasper Hogh.
Team news and key moments
Head Coach Wouter Vrancken made three changes to the side that drew midweek against FC Nordsjælland, he said after the match. Hearts started brightly, pressing high, but a defensive error led to the opening goal. Viljami Sinisalo made a key save from Sabri Guendouz before Celtic's quick-fire double effectively ended the contest. The home side's relentless pressure continued after the break, with the visitors unable to cope.
Celtic made five substitutions in the second half, introducing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Landon Emenalo, Kasper Hogh, James Forrest and Jota. The team's next league fixture is away to Hibernian on Sunday 25 October, a match that will test their momentum as they look to maintain their position at the summit of the league table. Their recent form across all competitions shows two wins and three losses from their last five matches, a sequence that includes a 4-1 defeat to Benfica on 15 October and a 2-0 win over Motherwell on 11 October.
With 23 goals scored and only five conceded this season, Celtic's commanding position is built on a formidable attack and solid defence. The team's average of 2.6 goals per game and a goal every 35 minutes of play this campaign underlines their offensive potency. The result provides a significant boost ahead of Thursday's UEFA Europa League group stage match against Celta Vigo at Celtic Park, where the manager will be hoping his squad's injury list remains clear.
