Boyata debut goal helps Celtic beat Stjarnan in Champs Lge qualifier

CELTIC opened their 2015-16 competitive season by beating Icelandic champions FC Stjarnan in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Following long periods of frustration, Dedryck Boyata headed home Stefan Johansen's corner just before half-time to give the Hoops a deserved lead.

Johansen guided in the second soon after the break before he was fouled in the box but sub Leigh Griffiths saw the penalty saved by ex-Motherwell keeper Gunnar Nielsen after arguing with Johansen for the ball.

The closest Stjarnan came in Glasgow was a Jeppe Hansen shot which travelled harmlessly wide in the second half.

The result could have been greater but gives the Hoops a reasonable advantage ahead of next Wednesday's second leg (KO 20:15 BST) at the 1,000-capacity Samsungvollur stadium, south of the capital Reykjavik - where Celtic's eventful European adventure began last season.

Man of the match: The Norwegian impressed in the advanced midfield role and netted his fourth European goal for Celtic (Picture from BBC Scotland)

Celtic boss Ronny Deila said reaching the group stage, something they achieved under Neil Lennon two years ago, would constitute European success but they would still have two more two-legged hurdles to overcome if they are to progress as expected next week.

Stjarnan boss Runar Pall Sigmundsson - who led his side to their first domestic title in his first season in charge last year - stated beforehand his team need their "best-ever display" to have any chance of winning.

And his claims proved to be true as the Champions League debutants, who beat Motherwell at this stage of the Europa League last term before losing 9-0 on aggregate to Inter Milan in the play-off round, found it difficult to contain the overwhelming favourites Celtic.

The Scottish Premiership champions will be hoping for a smoother passage after exiting at the third qualifying round stage last term to Maribor having been reinstated after a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Legia Warsaw, who fielded an ineligible player.

But there has been a sense of greater preparation this time around with three pre-season friendlies in the last 10 days staged at St Mirren Park in Paisley, yielding two wins and a defeat.

Celtic, without the suspended Virgil van Dijk after his red card against Inter Milan in the Europa League last season and the stricken Kris Commons, were forced into a late change to their line-up with James Forrest replacing Gary Mackay-Steven who was injured in the warm-up.

Last minute call-up: Forrest (pictured) was drafted in just moments before kick-off and was replaced on the substitutes bench by Stefan Scepovic

Ronny Deila handed debuts to Belgian defender Boyata and Turkish striker Nadir Ciftci, who was first to threaten after a quiet start at Celtic Park.

The £1.5 million signing from Dundee United turned on the edge of the box and forced a fine save from Nielsen, in goal for the visitors.

As Celtic continued to probe from the outset, last season's player of the year Johansen fired inches wide and Stuart Armstrong fizzed another effort narrowly over the crossbar before being superbly denied by Nielsen one-on-one when played in by Forrest.

Stjarnan - who sit sixth in the Icelandic top-flight after 11 games - struggled to progress over the halfway line amid the constant waves of Celtic attacks as Ciftci headed Emilio Izaguirre's cross off target.

But, just when the home crowd became increasingly restless, the frustration was relieved a minute before half-time by a well-directed header from close range by Boyata - a £1.5 million buy from Manchester City.

The same pattern developed after the restart with Ciftci heading over Forrest's delivery within seconds before Stjarnan finally created a noteworthy chance through Hansen, who dragged a low shot across Craig Gordon's goal.

The lively Ciftci caught the eye on his first European appearance and was unfortunate not to score his first goal for the club when meeting another accurate cross from the all-action Johansen, Nielsen reacting well to keep him out.

Reliance for goals: Ciftci scored 33 goals in the last two seasons for Dundee United (Picture from Sky Sports)

But, 90 seconds later, it was Johansen celebrating Celtic's second as the Norwegian, who scored 13 goals in all competitions last term, swept home Armstrong's driven centre on 56 minutes.

The first substitution soon followed as Forrest was withdrawn for the arrival of Celtic's new no.9 Leigh Griffiths, illustrating their intentions to search for further rewards for their dominance.

Armstrong and captain Scott Brown were next to ask questions of 28-year-old Stjarnan stopper Nielsen before Ciftci made way for Anthony Stokes.

Fellow sub Griffiths then had the opportunity to widen the margins on 78 minutes after Johansen was sent sprawling by Brynjar Gudjonsson in the box but Nielsen dived to his right to make an excellent stop.

MATCH FACTS:

Possession: Celtic - 67% Stjarnan - 33% Attempts: Celtic - 22 Stjarnan - 2 On target: Celtic - 9 Stjarnan - 0 Off target: Celtic - 13 Stjarnan - 2

Corners: Celtic - 9 Stjarnan - 1 Offsides: Celtic - 1 Stjarnan - 2 Fouls: Celtic - 11 Stjarnan - 13

There was a slight injury concern for Celtic when goalscorer Boyata hobbled off in the closing stages and was replaced by Efe Ambrose.

However, it was a minor sidenote on a largely positive evening for the Hoops as they take a two-goal cushion to Scandinavia in seven days' time after condeming Stjarnan - a team largely consisting of students - to a sixth defeat in nine games.

Fellow Scottish hopefuls Aberdeen and Inverness, who make their European debut this season, will be hoping to follow in Celtic's footsteps in the Europa League tomorrow against Rijeka and Astra respectively.

Absent: Commons (pictured) is still suffering from a broken toe but is back in training for Celtic (Picture from BBC Scotland)

TEAMS:

Celtic (4-4-1-1): 1 Gordon, 23 Lustig, 20 Boyata (Ambrose 82'), 21 Mulgrew, 3 Izaguirre, 49 Forrest (Griffiths 58'), 8 Brown (c), 6 Bitton, 14 Armstrong, 25 Johansen, 7 Ciftci (Stokes 74').

Subs not used: 26 Bailly (GK), 41 Fisher, 18 Rogic, 12 Scepovic.

Booked: Ambrose (88')

Goals: Boyata (44'), Johansen (56')

FC Stjarnan (4-2-3-1): 1 Nielsen, 12 Aeigsson, 2 Gudjonsson, 9 D Laxdal, 14 Arnason, 5 Praest (c), 7 Johansson (Runarsson 73'), 11 Bjorgvinsson (Ottesen 86'), 17 Finsen, 23 Bjornsson (Gunnarsson 81'), 19 Hansen.

Subs not used: 25 Johannesson (GK), 4 J Laxdal, 22 Knutsson, 18 Barddal.

Booked: Nielsen (62')

Goals: None

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany) - 8/10 Attendance: 48,185

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