Celtic will turn their attention to Europe and the significant challenge of Borussia Dortmund now but they warmed up for this week’s action with a resounding victory over St Johnstone in Perth.
By the time the first 45 was done the points were already banked.
A Kyogo double with a Bernardo effort cushioned in the middle had given Celtic an unassailable lead. Not that they were content to stop there as they kept at it.
Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah were among the goals in the second period as Celtic kept their foot to the floor.
It took 35 minutes for the opening goal to come although some of that was down to VAR; referee Don Robertson had chopped off a Maeda effort effort after Austin Trusty fouled Graham Carey in the build-up. By the end of this game it was little more than a footnote given the manner in which Celtic steamrolled over the top of St Johnstone.
There was no ambiguity about Kyogo’s effort. He latched on to Nicolas Kuhn’s header and ran at the Saints defence before firing a powerful, low effort well past the reach of Ross Sinclair.
It was a goal that burst St Johnstone’s resistance with Celtic quickly adding to their tally.
Bernardo netted the pick of the afternoon as Celtic moved the ball from back to front with pace and menace before the midfielder finished the move.
Kyogo was next up as he headed in Greg Taylor’s cross to give Celtic the most comfortable of cushions.
There were changes in the second period as Brendan Rodgers looked to Dortmund but Celtic kept at it.
McGregor’s fourth came as he collected from Kuhn and rifled his effort low into the back of the net from the edge of the box, a goal that has become something of a trademark across the opening weeks of this campaign.
Maeda got in on the act as he headed in the fifth. Still they came. Idah was off the bench to claim the sixth and there might have been a seventh with the only the post denying that particular scoreline.
There will be tougher nights ahead for Celtic.
St Johnstone won’t be judged on this outing but they badly need to get their house in order.
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