Celtic’s 6-0 thrashing of Aberdeen at Parkhead in the Premiership final was a perfect retribution for their humiliation in Madrid.
After being reduced to 10 players, the Hoops were beaten 6-0 by Atletico in the Champions League Group Stage game on Tuesday in Spain. Meanwhile, the Dons left the Europa Conference League despite a 2-2 draw against PAOK on Thursday in Greece.
In the Premiership’s safe confines, South Korean striker Yang Hyun Jun scored his first Celtic Goal in the 9th minute. Japan striker Kyogo Fuhashi then added a 2nd goal seven minutes later.
The winger Luis Palma, who scored in the 77th and 88th minutes, and the substitutes David Turnbull, and Oh Hyeon Gyu twice in the 10 minute added time, completed a convincing win for Brendan Rodgers.
Rangers won 2-0 earlier that day at Livingston to exert some pressure on Celtic. But a lopsided win restored their eight point lead over Old Firm rivals heading into the break.
Both sides have made significant changes in response to their European experiences.
Odin Thiago was selected to replace Paulo Bernardo, who made his debut in the league. Yang (21 years old) replaced Daizen Meeda after he sustained an injury in a challenge against Atletico Madrid that resulted in his red card.
Bojan Miovski returned to the team for visitors, as did Jonny Hayes and Leighton-Clarkson. Dante Polvara also made a return.
Some people inside Celtic Park disrupted the minute of silence for Armistice Day. The stadium was without several hundred Green Brigade registered members, who are still suspended due to “unacceptable behavior”.
Granite City were under pressure immediately. In the fourth minute, Kelle Roos saved Furuhashi’s strong drive. Matt O’Riley then somehow managed to bounce the rebound from five yards over the bar.
Roos, though, was quickly beaten when he failed to reach a Palma corner from the left. Yang, who had signed with Gangwon FC during the summer, smashed in a goal from close quarters.
Furuhashi’s ninth goal in the season was scored after Furuhashi’s cutback from O’Riley’s brilliant reverse pass.
In the 22nd, Polvara had sent Hayes to the front but the ex-Celtic player missed his chance.
Furuhashi missed another opportunity at the opposite end, and Roos tipped fantastic efforts from Holm then Palma above the bar as Celtic continued their dominance of possession.
Both players required treatment after a robust tackle by Dons’ defender Slobodan Rubezic against Furuhashi in the second-half. The former received a yellow from the referee Willie Collum.
Furuhashi was replaced by Oh and Holm with Turnbull. A Miovski flick off a Nick Devlin corner forced Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart to make his first ever save.
Yang was cut in the face by Jack MacKenzie, who would replace him with James Forrest shortly before Celtic received a penalty.
The VAR asked Willie Collum to check his monitor at the pitchside after MacKenzie had knocked out Oh in the box.
Palma had to take a long approach when Collum pointed out the penalty spot. He then hammered his kick past Roos.
Turnbull scored off the goalpost in the second minute added time. Oh then added the fifth by heading in an O’Riley cross.
