Hearts bet on bold, front-foot football at Celtic Park, and the hosts made them pay for every ounce of that ambition.
Hearts walked into Celtic Park with a plan to take the game to the hosts. It backfired badly. The visitors chose attack as their best form of defence, and Celtic turned that decision into a harsh lesson.
The approach was brave, but against a side as ruthless as Celtic at home, bravery without balance is costly. By pushing forward, Hearts left themselves exposed, and Celtic took full advantage whenever the game opened up.
For Celtic, this was a performance of control and sharp instincts. They let Hearts come at them, then hit back with the kind of authority that has made their home ground such a tough place to visit. The hosts looked comfortable in the spaces Hearts left behind.
For Hearts, the lesson is clear. Ambition is welcome, but at Celtic Park it needs to come with structure. They will have to find a better balance before their next big away test, or the same story could repeat itself.
