Magic Maeda hits 25 as Celtic club record shot goes and Aberdeen find out brutal truth about the champs - 3 talking points

Brendan Rodgers reckons Celtic were victims of a controversial ‘in or out’ guess on Saturday.

But there was no doubting this as the Hoops moved another step closer to getting across the line themselves. Goals from Daizen Maeda, Jota, Callum McGregor had the champions three ahead by half time before Hyunjun Yang and Maeda clinched a 5-1 victory to move 16 points clear with 10 games to go.

Incredibly this was them far from their best too as a performance littered with misplaced passes was lifted by clinical finishing. Aberdeen really should have been ahead early doors after passing up two huge chances. Oday Dabbagh stared down Kasper Schmeichel after just seven minutes but dallied and allowed the keeper to spread himself to reach Jeppe Okkels’ cutback. The Hoops No1 then breathed a sigh of relief when his attempted pass to Austin Trusty went straight to Kevin Nisbet but the striker’s first time effort slid just wide.

It was a sloppy from the hosts. Not the reaction to Saturday’s defeat Rodgers would have been after. But any home nerves were blown away after 24 minutes when Maeda slammed home goal number 24 of a remarkable season.

It arrived in fortuitous circumstances as Kristers Tobers sliced Arne Engles’ through ball right into the path of the Japanese ace who was first to react and hook past Ross Doohan. Five minutes later to was 2-0 and as good as game over as Jota’s sclaffed home his third goal back in the Hoops.

Aberdeen lost the ball deep inside the Hoops half and Nicolas Kuhn sent the Portuguese scampering down the left in a three on two against the Dons’ defence. The winger played in Engels before timing his run perfectly to meet the return 12 yards out. The finish was messy but Jota didn’t care.

McGregor put the