Celtic overcome Hatate and Carter Vickers blows as they outgun Aberdeen in Pittodrie classic – 3 talking points

It was a belter of a game in Pittodrie as Matt O'Riley capped off a 3-1 win for Celtic against a youthful Aberdeen team who refused to lie down.

It was a frantic start with the front two of Duk and Bojan Miovski causing all sorts of problems. The latter won the Dons a free-kick on the edge of the box which Leighton Clarkson fired just wide and the champions took a minute to lean on the ropes with the home crowd baying. They soon got their bearings though and it was Liel Abada who struck the opener. The winger tapped in at the back post from a Daizen Maeda cross, a goal that was initially chalked off for offside before a VAR review correctly deemed him on.

Minutes later Maeda tested the gloves of Kelle Roos but even here it was only just getting started. The home side struck back, Duk and Miovski once again combining for the latter to thump one past Joe Hart.

Then it was Celtic's turn to go on the front foot. Kyogo's trademark brand of lurking beyond the defence paid off, a stray defensive header from Nicky Devlin falling kindly into his path, and he clinically took the chance that presented itself...as if he was ever going to miss.

The two sides continued to trade chances for the remainder of the first half and at the break it should have been a far higher-scoring encounter than it was, both teams attacking with fervour but neither defence looking especially sharp.

The Hoops rung in two changes at half-time, one seemingly injury-enforced and the other tactical. Stephen Welsh replaced Cameron Carter-Vickers while Reo Hatate came on for David Turnbull, who was unable to create much in the first 45. Tough for the champions but not insurmountable.

But did the changes calm the chaos? Hardly. Shortly after the