Celtic bounce back emphatically by thrashing Aberdeen

Celtic bounced back from their recent double setback with a 5-1 win over Aberdeen to stretch their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points.

Brendan Rodgers' side suffered a surprise defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road at the weekend after being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich a week ago despite an impressive 1-1 draw in the second leg in Germany.

The Dons missed three good chances in the first half which ended with the home side leading through goals from Daizen Maeda, Jota and Callum McGregor, taking the jeopardy out of the second half.

Celtic substitute Yang Hyun-Jun added a fourth in the 72nd minute before Dons substitute Shayden Morris reduced the deficit in the last minute of normal time but there was time for Maeda to grab his second to complete a convincing victory.

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With 10 fixtures remaining, Celtic moved further ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the table and are firmly on course for a domestic treble.

Jimmy Thelin had got Aberdeen back on track with three successive wins in all competitions after a horrendous run of league form but paid dearly for their first-half profligacy albeit they finished the night still in third place, one point ahead of Dundee United who host Hibs on Wednesday.

The fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the Hoops.

Rodgers reshuffled his pack with winger Jota, left-back Jeffrey Schlupp and midfielder Reo Hatate back in the side.

Thelin had asked his team for bravery but that appeared to be missing in the seventh minute as a swift counter-attack ended when Oday Dabbagh, making his first start, somehow failed to get a touch on a pass from Jeppe Okkels as keeper Kasper Schmeichel rushed out to meet him.

Moments later, the