Celtic thrashed Hearts 7-1 at Parkhead to move four points clear at the top of the league, with the champions producing their best performance of the season. The hosts stormed into a 5-1 lead at half-time after a remarkable first-half goal rush.
First-half blitz
Kieran Tierney opened the scoring with a header from a corner, before Benjamin Nygren doubled the lead inside 10 minutes. Fit-again starlet Callum Osmand then scored twice on his first senior start as Hearts fell apart.
Laurent Mendy briefly gave the visitors hope with a fine finish, but Jamie McCart turned the ball into his own net just before the interval. Camilo Duran and Nygren added further goals in the second half to complete the rout.
Player ratings
Viljami Sinisalo was rated 7, with Hearts registering more shots than Celtic (20) but only five on target. Colby Donovan impressed at right-back, combining well with Haissem Hassan, while Dane Murray recovered from a difficult European night to play a key role in the second goal.
Liam Scales made amends for an overhit backpass by flicking a header into Tierney's path for the opener. Tierney, rated 9, set up Duran for the sixth goal after scoring from a corner.
Captain Callum McGregor was neat and composed in midfield, while Mika Baur, rated 9, had a hand in three goals. The Germany international delivered the corner for Tierney's opener and another that led to Nygren's goal, before setting up the own goal.
Duran and Osmand shine
Nygren, rated 8, scored twice, including a late effort after racing onto a pass from substitute Kasper Hogh. Hassan was a constant menace down the right, although he remains without a goal in 12 games.
Duran, rated 9, laid on two goals before scoring himself. He sent Osmand through for the third and set up the fourth, then curled home a first-time finish in the second half. Osmand, also rated 9, scored a dream double on his first senior start before being substituted at half-time.
Substitutes included Jota, who returned from an 18-month injury layoff, and Landon Emenalo, who made his debut. Hogh assisted Nygren's seventh goal, while James Forrest was introduced for the final 20 minutes.
