Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a 2-1 win over city rivals Rangers at Parkhead.
A goal in either half from Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo and Japanese talisman Kyogo Furuhashi was enough to settle a frenetic Glasgow derby in front of 60,000 home supporters.
The on-loan Benfica academy graduate Bernardo – who is available to purchase at the end of the campaign – hammered the hosts in front with a superb half-volley on 25 minutes.
Kyogo then made it seven in his last seven matches against the Light Blues with a stunning 20-yard effort that arrowed past Jack Butland into the top corner two minutes into the second half.
Philippe Clement’s men did have their chances but they spurned some golden opportunities of their own and their day of misery looked complete when Leon Balogun was ordered off after 71 minutes as the Belgian tasted defeat for the first time as Rangers manager.
However, James Tavernier handed them a lifeline with a free-kick goal on 88 minutes but with 11 minutes added on the visitors couldn’t force an equaliser and the Belgian tasted defeat for the first time as Rangers manager.
Brendan Rodgers’s side posted their second derby win of the campaign after the 1-0 win at Ibrox back in September.
The Northern Irishman still sports a phenomenal record in this fixture having tasted defeat just once in 15 matches.
Portuguese superstar Paulo Bernardo comes of age for Celtic
The Portuguese midfielder was involved in the thick of the action all afternoon. The 21-year-old should have opened the scoring when he headed inches wide following an exquisite Palma cross. He then rattled in a snapshot that crashed into the side netting, However, that merely delayed the inevitable as he hammered a beauty on the half-volley on 25 minutes to put Celtic 1-0 up. Bernardo showed superb technique as his effort flew into the net like a bullet past Jack Butland. It was his second goal in successive Premiership matches after he opened his account at Dens Park against Dundee on Boxing Day. It was no more than the hosts deserved at that point in the contest. He picked up a harsh booking for leaving the field to celebrate but players know the rules. He was lucky not to see red for a second bookable offence on Connor Goldson. The on-loan Benfica academy starlet is available at the end of the campaign to buy on a permanent deal. He is certainly putting himself in the mix when those conversations roll around with his recent stellar displays for his club. Could Celtic end up signing another superstar from Portugal?
Tony Haggerty
Palma’s mixed match
Although he was signed in time for the first Glasgow Derby in September, Palma didn’t make it off of the bench, making his debut after the international break. Today was different, as the Honduran started out wide, up against James Tavernier on the left wing. For the opening 20-25 minutes, this seemed to be the out-ball for Celtic, as Bernardo, McGregor and even Scales were picking out their number seven with ease. Not one for one-on-one battles, Tavernier was getting continually beaten in the duels down that side, with McCausland having to double up to help his captain. As usual, Palma’s deliveries were hit-and-miss in the opening 45, with his corners providing a mixed bag of success and failure in truth. He was Celtic’s best wide player in that half, though that wasn’t saying much, given Johnston, Taylor and Maeda’s performances. As the game progressed, Palma had more space to operate and cause problems, though he failed to capitalise. He will be a big player at Ibrox in a few months time, that’s for sure.
Ryan McGinlay
Another midfield masterclass from Callum McGregor
The Celtic skipper was outstanding as he got the better of his duels with Rangers adversary Todd Cantwell. Every time the derby rolls around the Scotland midfielder unerringly steps up to the plate. McGregor did not let his teammates down and he was an inspiration to all around him. His performance displayed real captain and leadership qualities. McGregor has been taking some amount of flak recently because he has slipped below his very high standards but he bossed the midfield area and he ran the show. The 30-year-old has been central in helping Celtic rack up the trebles in recent years. He is the leader of the Rodgers Celtic team which is in transformation after the Ange Postecoglou era. He is pivotal to everything that Celtic did and was magnificent. He is a class act.
Tony Haggerty
Bragging rights remain
What. A. Win. No two ways about it, this is massive for Celtic. That’s now two Rangers managers who have tried to beat Rodgers’ Celtic in Michael Beale and Phillippe Clement, and both have failed. These are the games that Rodgers came back for, and he managed it to perfection. Whatever he said at half-time to rally his troops certainly worked, as his team put their collective feet on the gas to take the game beyond Rangers. Despite Tavernier’s late goal, Celtic managed to get the all-important win on the day. Now eight points clear going into the new year, Celtic must push on and make sure they retain the title from this great position they find themselves in. My goodness, it was nervy at the end of this match, but the side managed to pull through the adversity that the ten men of Rangers threw at Celtic. The bragging rights will be staying in the East End of Glasgow for another few months at least, in a much-needed boost for the club after a mixed December.
Ryan McGinlay
Write Kyogo off at your peril
What a shift and finish from Kyogo with his weaker foot. It was a sensational finish from the Japanese talisman and gave us an explosive start to the second half of this contest. According to former Rangers striker Kris Boyd, he cannot finish like Lawrence Shankland. No team talk would have been required. Thank you, very much. Kyogo had a quiet first half but was still making those runs to keep the Rangers backline occupied. He is Celtic’s goalscoring talisman and to beat a goalkeeper of the quality of Butland with such an exquisite strike is no mean feat. He has not been at his prolific and deadly best this season but he is always capable of providing stunning moments of quality. That is another one to add to his collection and is undoubtedly his best-ever career goal against his rivals. It was a stunning strike and it lit up a full house Celtic Park at a crucial time in the match to ensure the points stayed in Glasgow’s east end.
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