Portuguese forward Braga on-target as Hearts beat Celtic 2-1 to go clear in Scotland [video] | OneFootball

Braga has 7 goals in the SPL this term

Celtic 1-2 Hearts

The Scottish Premiership is proving an exciting proposition this year, with surprise package Heart of Midlothian pulling three points clear at the top this weekend following victory at champions Celtic.

The Edinburgh club have been top for much of the season, but headed to Celtic Park on Saturday level on points with their opponents, who were taking to the field for the first time under new manager Wilfried Nancy. However, Hearts scored in each half to give themselves a 2-0 lead, with a late consolation by Celtic’s Kieran Tierney not enough to deny the visitors.

One of the standout performers for Hearts this season has been Portuguese signing Claudio Braga, who was signed from Danish club Aalesund. The Vila Nova de Gaia native, who spent time at Boavista, Paços de Ferreira and Rio Ave during his youth, has provided a shrewd acquisition, adapting quickly to the Scottish football.

Braga opened the scoring against Celtic following some poor defending from the champions, which allowed the 26-year-old to convert with his left foot from inside the box. The goal was Braga’s 7th in the Scottish top-flight, which puts him joint-second in the top scorers list with 16 rounds of action played.

“My goal? I think it was very important,” Braga told SKY Sports after the match. “It’s a tough stadium to play in. We showed that we can be a family, that’s what we did today and we got the reward with a goal. We tried to defend as good as we could these little moments. In the recent games we have lacked a bit of luck in these types of moments, but luckily we got the goal and that was important for us to go to the second half with a different mind.

“Was I worried about VAR? I half-celebrated to be honest, but I got the goal and I’m very happy.”

Celtic remain strong favourites for the title and with good reason. It has been 40 years since neither Celtic or Glasgow rivals Rangers won the league in Scotland. The last team outside the ‘Old Firm’ to be champions were Aberdeen, playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, in the 1984-85 season.

“How difficult will it be from now on? It will be as difficult as it has been until now,” Braga said when asked about what lies ahead. “It’s a difficult position to be in, but in a good way. We just need to be happy with it because it’s a good pressure for us, keep enjoying and keep playing like a family as we do, then the results will happen.”