Hearts returned to Celtic Park seeking revenge but suffered a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of the reigning champions. The Hoops, described as devastating, moved four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, leaving Hearts in third, a further four points behind Rangers. All three of Celtic's starting forwards—Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, and Camilo Duran—scored in the emphatic demolition.
Former striker Kris Boyd was scathing in his assessment of Hearts' performance, calling the first half devastating and questioning their tactics. He noted the lack of respect shown to Celtic and emphasized that Hearts' approach was a wake-up call. Former defender Ryan McGowan added that Hearts repeatedly gave the ball away in dangerous areas, leading to quick goals.
Despite the poor performance, Martin O'Neill acknowledged Hearts as big challengers for the title.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing