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Trivia
- Celtic warmed up for their Champions League showdown with FC Basel with a convincing victory over Aberdeen.
Review
Celtic sent a chilling warning to their watching European opponents this afternoon by producing an impressive display to wipe away Aberdeen's new-found optimism with goals for Johan Mjallby, Chris Sutton, Momo Sylla and Paul Lambert.
Larsson should have scored after just one minute following a flowing move. Stilian Petrov slid the ball through to the overlapping Sylla and from his cross Larsson outjumped Eric Deloumeaux at the back post, but he somehow headed just past the post.
The writing was on the wall for the Dons, but it was Larsson's international team-mate, who put the Celtic ahead in the fourth minute. Bobby Petta worked a quick corner with Sylla and swung the ball into the box where Larsson flicked on for Mjalby to poke the ball home from close range.
Larsson had another great chance to score his third of the season in the 32nd minute when he got on the end of Petta's free-kick, but he headed straight at Peter Kjaer.
But Aberdeen's fortune could not last any longer and Chris Sutton put Celtic into a commanding lead. First Philip McGuire needed to make clearance off the line to deny Petrov after Larsson had played him in. But the Bulgarian picked up the ball again and crossed to Sutton to get ahead of the Aberdeen man and head into the net.
Celtic were threatening to run riot and Petrov fired just over from Sylla's perfectly-weighted centre moments later.
The Hoops extended their lead just seven minutes after the interval when Petta swung in a hanging cross into the back post and the unmarked Sylla came in to head into the net. The players ran away celebrating to leave Aberdeen duo McGuire and Jamie McAllister squaring up to each other which needed Russell Anderson and referee Stuart Dougal to intervene.
It was far too easy for Celtic, who made it four in the 65th minute when Sutton found Lambert and he cut inside McAllister before side-footing past Kjaer and into the bottom corner. Another goal went by without Larsson scoring, but he had another chance to get his name on the scoresheet in the 70th minute. He took Petrov's pass in his stride and looked set to score, but the Aberdeen keeper denied him with a good save to his left.
Teams
Aberdeen:-
Kjaer, Deloumeaux, Anderson, McGuire, McNaughton, Clark (Tiernan 68), Bisconti, Darren Young, McAllister, Mike (D'Jaffo 55), Mackie.
Subs not used:- Peat, Michie, Payne.
Celtic:-
Douglas, Balde, Mjallby (Crainey 73), Valgaeren, Sylla, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Maloney 73), Petta (Fernandez 73), Larsson, Sutton.
Subs not used:- Hedman, McNamara.
Goals:- Mjallby 5, Sutton 34, Sylla 53, Lambert 66.
Att:- 17,824
Ref:- S Dougal.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic easily dump Dons
BBC
Aberdeen 0-4 Celtic
Celtic warmed up for their Champions League showdown with FC Basel with a convincing victory over Aberdeen.
Johan Mjallby and Chris Sutton put the Scottish champions on easy street before half time.
And Momo Sylla and Paul Lambert put the icing on the cake after the break.
Aberdeen had inflicted Celtic's only defeat in the Scottish Premier League last season with a 2-0 win at Pittodrie in December.
The young Dons were oozing confidence before this game but were swept aside with ease by last season's runaway champions.
Swedish international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman was left waiting for his Celtic debut as Robert Douglas continued in goal.
That meant they were unchanged from the side that defeated Dunfermline Athletic on the opening day.
Ebbe Skovdahl was forced to make two changes from Dons side that defeated Hibernian in injury time.
Derek Young and Ben Thornley failed morning fitness tests and that gave Chris Clark and Leon Mike an opportunity to start.
Photo Gallery: Saturday's SPL action
But it was Celtic who pushed forward early on, determined not to allow a repeat of last season's defeat.
Henrik Larsson, who scored twice on the opening day, headed just over from a cross to the back post from Momo Sylla.
But it took just over four minutes for Celtic to take the lead.
Bobby Petta's cross from the corner flag was flicked on by the head of Joos Valgaeren and fellow defender Mjallby poked the ball into the far corner of the net.
Aberdeen threatened themselves and Mike's low shot through a forest of legs was well smothered by Douglas.
But Celtic broke to the other end to increase their lead after 34 minutes.
Larsson led the charge and set up Petrov, whose shot from the edge of the box was cleared off the line by Philip McGuire.
It fell again to the Bulgarian midfielder and his chip to the back post found Sutton rising above McGuire to head home.
Petrov fired just over moments later as Celtic took command.
The game was eventually put beyond Aberdeen eight minutes after the break.
Petta sent a looping cross to the back post and Sylla rose above his marker to head home and leave the Dons defenders arguing among themselves.
It was almost four when Peter Kjaer was beaten by a Larsson shot that struck the outside of the post.
Lambert eventually made it even more convincing after 66 minutes as he was allowed time to twist and turn inside the Dons penalty box before side-footing the ball into the far corner from 15 yards.
Aberdeen: Kjaer, Deloumeaux, Anderson, McGuire, McNaughton, Clark (Tiernan 68), Bisconti, Darren Young, McAllister, Mike (D'Jaffo 55), Mackie.
Subs Not Used: Peat, Michie, Payne.
Celtic: Douglas, Balde, Mjallby (Crainey 73), Valgaeren, Sylla, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Maloney 73), Petta (Fernandez 73), Larsson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Hedman, McNamara.
Goals: Mjallby 5, Sutton 34, Sylla 53, Lambert 66.
Attendance: 17,824
Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).