Celtic prepare for final with Aberdeen rout, Rangers beat Dundee United
There were victories for both Celtic and Rangers on the penultimate matchday of the Scottish Premiership season on Wednesday.
Celtic thrashed Aberdeen 5-1 in a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final, while Rangers rallied to beat Dundee United in their penultimate game of the Premiership season.
Having landed their fourth straight league title over two weeks ago, Celtic had little to play for against an Aberdeen side that still harboured hopes of finishing third.
But that did not show on Wednesday as Brendan Rodgers' team claimed a dominant victory.
Maik Nawrocki climbed highest to nod in Luke McCowan's corner for a 31st-minute opener, and though Kevin Nisbet briefly got Aberdeen level, Hyun-Jun Yang's close-range finish had Celtic back in the ascendency by half-time.
That goal took the wind out of Aberdeen's sails, and Celtic were 3-1 up within three minutes of the restart, McCowan rifling into the roof of the net after good work from James Forrest.
McGowan had his third goal involvement shortly afterwards, teeing up Johnny Kenny for his first Celtic goal on his maiden start for the club, while Adam Idah added a late fifth to complete the scoring.
The victory lifts Celtic to 91 points ahead of their final game of the Premiership season, at home to St. Mirren on Saturday.
They will then reconvene with Aberdeen for the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park a week later, as they chase a sixth domestic treble in nine years.
Aberdeen's defeat ensures they can no longer finish as the best of the rest, with Hibernian's 2-2 draw at St. Mirren giving them an unassailable four-point cushion in third.
Celtic are 17 points clear of Rangers, despite Barry Ferguson's side fighting back to beat Dundee United 3-1 in what could be his final home game in charge.
Ferguson looked set to oversee another low point in a dismal campaign when Samuel Cleall-Harding glanced in an eighth-minute opener, though Cyriel Dessers swiftly levelled.
Dessers got his second from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after Mohamed Diomande was caught by Will Ferry inside the area, then a venomous Nicolas Raskin finish made sure of the points.
Data debrief: Celtic warm up against favourite opponents
Though Celtic will expect a much better iteration of Aberdeen in the cup final on May 24, they can feel confident they have the Dons' number.
Rodgers has now enjoyed 14 league victories over Aberdeen – his most against any opponent in his managerial career.
This is just the second time in the last seven seasons that Celtic have won their final away match, having also beaten Kilmarnock 5-0 last campaign.