Celtic reaffirmed their dominance in the Scottish Premiership with a commanding 3-0 victory over Heart of Midlothian, led by a sensational performance from Daizen Maeda.
The Japanese forward continued his remarkable season, netting twice to reach his 30th goal of the campaign and scoring in his eighth consecutive league match.
Manager Brendan Rodgers recently expressed the club’s desire to extend Maeda’s contract beyond its current 2027 expiration, and this latest display only reinforced why he is so highly valued.
Maeda played a pivotal role in all three of Celtic’s goals, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most dangerous attackers.
Celtic Ruthless as Hearts Struggle to Contain Maeda
Hearts arrived at Celtic Park in strong form, having lost just twice in their last 14 matches and pushing for a top-six finish.
Early on, they showed confidence, forcing stand-in goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo into action as he replaced the injured Kasper Schmeichel for only his second Celtic start.
Sinisalo made a crucial save from Lewis Neilson’s close-range effort following a corner, but after a brief spell of pressure from the visitors, Celtic took complete control.
Captain Callum McGregor orchestrated the opener with a perfectly weighted through ball that Maeda latched onto before clinically dispatching past Craig Gordon.
Minutes later, Nicolas Kühn set up Maeda again, whose header struck the post, allowing Jota to react quickest and fire home the rebound.
Hearts attempted to respond, with Jeffrey Schlupp making a key block and James Wilson wasting a free header, but their hopes were dashed before the break.
Celtic launched a swift counter-attack, with Kühn exploiting space to square the ball for Maeda, who tapped in his second of the night.
The game was effectively over by halftime.
Hearts adjusted their formation in the second half but never threatened to mount a comeback as Celtic comfortably saw out the win.
Maeda and Celtic's Attack in Full Flow
Although Celtic started the match slowly, their finishing was lethal.
Each of their first-half goals showcased precision, pace, and composure, with Maeda proving once again why he is among the league’s standout performers.
His 11 goals in the last eight Premiership outings have propelled him to an incredible 30-goal tally for the season, making him a strong contender for multiple Player of the Year accolades.
It’s no surprise that Celtic are eager to secure his long-term future.
Meanwhile, Sinisalo, under scrutiny as Schmeichel’s replacement, delivered a composed performance.
His early save was key in preventing Hearts from gaining momentum, allowing Celtic to assert control.
Hearts' Brave Approach Comes at a Cost
Neil Critchley’s Hearts started with intent, pressing high and causing problems early on.
Elton Kabangu was a lively presence, and the visitors carved out a few promising openings.
However, their ambitious setup left them vulnerable, and Celtic took full advantage.
McGregor was afforded too much space to create the opener, while Hearts’ defense struggled to contain Maeda’s movement.
Their backline was exposed again for the second goal, and they failed to stop a blistering Celtic counter for the third.
Despite the defeat, Hearts remain in sixth place and have a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Their final league position will be determined by upcoming matches against Dundee United and Motherwell, both crucial in their bid for a top-half finish.
Given how far they have come this season, they will approach those fixtures with confidence—though this match was a stark reminder of the gulf between them and the league leaders.