Celtic Triumph 3-0 Over Aberdeen as Duran Shines

Camilo Duran produced another thunderbolt as Celtic swept aside Aberdeen 3-0 to maintain their flawless start to the William Hill Premiership season.

Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hyun-jun joined him on the scoresheet, the damage done by half-time on a night when Celtic’s new talisman again looked unplayable through the middle.

Duran steals the stage

The game had barely settled when Duran lit it up.

Fourteen minutes in, with little apparent danger, he took a pass from Nygren 20 yards out. One touch, minimal backlift, and he crashed a vicious strike in off the bar. Marius Muller barely saw it. The Colombian’s sixth goal in five matches, and arguably the best of the lot since his summer move from Qarabag.

He did not stop there. Duran repeatedly tormented Aberdeen’s back line, forcing four first-half saves from Muller and lashing another effort over from a bouncing ball after Yang’s cross had panicked the defence.

Martin O’Neill signed him as a wide option. On this form, with Kasper Hogh still sidelined by a thigh injury, shifting him back to the flank looks less and less likely.

Dalglish ovation sets the tone

Before a ball was kicked, Celtic Park rose to salute Sir Kenny Dalglish.

The 75-year-old, who revealed earlier this year he is receiving treatment for cancer, walked out to a warm ovation as he spoke of his gratitude to Jock Stein, Celtic and the supporters for launching his career. The emotion in the stands quickly turned into energy on the pitch.

Callum McGregor returned from illness to anchor midfield, while Liam Scales filled in at left-back for the injured Kieran Tierney. Celtic gripped the ball early, probed patiently, then struck ruthlessly when Duran saw his first glimpse of goal.

Aberdeen did have moments. Ayoub Mouloua, handed his first start, headed wide from a decent opening, and defender Nesta Guinness-Walker saw a long-range effort held. Those half-chances only underlined how clinical Celtic were by comparison.

Celtic kill it before the break

The second goal arrived on 34 minutes and underlined the hosts’ sharpness in the box.

Haissem Hassan whipped in a cross that bounced awkwardly off Afeez Aremu. The loose ball sat up for Nygren, who met it first time with his right foot. Muller got something on it but not enough; the shot squeezed past him and Celtic were cruising.

Aberdeen’s response almost changed the mood. From Alexander Briedl’s corner, Gavin Molloy climbed and powered a header off the bar. Inches from a lifeline.

Instead, Celtic went for the throat.

They broke at speed, Duran driving the counter and sliding a perfectly weighted pass into Yang’s path. The South Korean winger didn’t hesitate, drilling a low left-foot finish beyond Muller. One end, woodwork. The other, ruthless precision. Aberdeen were 3-0 down and reeling.

Stephen Robinson had seen enough. At the interval he ripped up his front line and midfield, sending on Lewis Smith, Connor Ronan, Toyosi Olusanya and Mitchy Ntelo for Aremu, Briedl, Kevin Nisbet and Mouloua.

Aberdeen rally, Celtic flex depth

The changes brought a flicker of resistance. Aberdeen competed with more bite after the restart, and Smith forced Viljami Sinisalo into a solid save as the visitors at least asked a question.

Celtic, though, never lost control. O’Neill turned to two of the week’s new arrivals, introducing Danish midfielder Oliver Sorensen and on-loan Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka to an already confident side.

Both almost marked their league bows with goals. Mheuka showed strength and sharp movement to carve out a chance, drawing an excellent one-handed stop from Muller. Sorensen arrived on the edge of the box to meet a cutback first time on his left foot, but dragged his effort badly off target.

Muller stayed busy as Celtic finished with a flourish. The Aberdeen goalkeeper denied Scales, then substitutes Mika Baur and James Forrest, preventing a scoreline that could easily have turned brutal.

The margin stayed at three. The statement was bigger than that. Celtic’s perfect record remains intact, Duran’s scoring streak shows no sign of cooling, and with new signings already bedding in, the real question is who stops them from here.