Furuhashi at double as Celtic stay out in front
glasgow: Kyogo Furuhashi maintained his hot streak with two more goals as champions Celtic kept an iron grip on top spot in the Scotish Premiership with a decisive 4-0 win at home to St Mirren on Wednesday.
The Japan international took his tally to seven goals in as many games with his skill in being able to play off the shoulder of the last man twice rewarded following prolonged VAR reviews as Celtic won their 11th successive home league fixture.
Liel Abada had fired Celtic into a 15th-minute lead before Furuhashi was on target either side of the interval.
Substitute David Turnbull completed the scoring four minutes from time with a superb 25-yard strike.
Victory meant Celtic remained nine points clear of Glasgow arch rivals Rangers ater convincingly defeating the only Scotish side to beat them so far this season.
St Mirren, who dropped to seventh, were the last Scotish side to enjoy a domestic win at Parkhead, nearly two years ago.
“I thought it was a really strong all-round performance. We did all the aspects of our game prety well tonight,” said Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.
Rangers clung on to Celtic’s coat-tails as Alfredo Morelos scored twice in a come-from-behind 3-2 win away to 10-man Kilmarnock.
Killie defender Chris Stokes had the home faithful cheering at Rugby Park when he opened the scoring just six minutes into the match with a header from a corner.
Colombian striker Morelos, however, equalised midway through the first half.
Ryan Kent struck six minutes ater the break before Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong was sent off for a second bookable offence following an elbow in the face of let-back Borna Barisic.
It was from a Barisic cross that Morelos headed in his second goal in the 73rd minute but Rangers had to endure a nervous finish ater Joe Wright pulled a goal back five minutes from time for second-from-botom Kilmarnock.
“The first five-ten minutes, Killie came right for us and we were slow to start,” said Rangers manager Michael Beale.
“Ater that, we grew in the game, scored a fantastic equaliser then were excellent for large periods of the second half and got 3-1 in front and should have taken one or two more opportunities. berlin: Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann admited on Wednesday he wanted to stop the league geting “exciting again” with a win away at the resurgent RB Leipzig on Friday.
Four points clear on top of the table, Bayern are hoping for a record-extending 11th straight Bundesliga title.
Despite brave challenges from Freiburg and Union Berlin, the familiar failings of Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have let Leipzig as Bayern’s most likely challengers for the title.
“If we win the game, a nine-point lead (ahead of RB) would be a good cushion. If we should lose, it (the league) is very exciting again and then we will be under more pressure to act in the Bundesliga than if we were to win,” Nagelsmann said on Friday.
“So it’s an important game.”
The match pits Germany’s two most in-form sides against each other in what has emerged as perhaps the biggest rivalry in the Bundesliga in recent seasons.
Six of the teams’ 12 league clashes against each other have come with the sides siting first and second on the ladder.
While Bayern have lost only once in all competitions and are strong favourites for both the title and Friday’s clash, RB have lost just twice since local Leipzig lad Marco Rose took over as head coach in September.
The Red Bulls’ record at home is even more imposing, with six wins and one draw from seven league matches this season. Bayern have won five, drawn two and lost one of their eight games away from home.
Neither side will be at full strength however, with several key players missing.
Bayern captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and defender Lucas Hernandez both suffered long-term injuries, while forward Sadio Mane will not be back until at least February.
Leipzig captain and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is also out long-term, while France forward Christopher Nkunku will not be back in time to face Bayern.
Leipzig will however welcome back winger Timo Werner, who missed the World Cup with an ankle injury.
In an interview published Wednesday with Germany’s Sportbild, Werner said Leipzig could “increase the pressure on Bayern, especially as we still have the return fixture”.
“Before the winter break we were at eye level with Bayern, in terms of the quality of our play.”