CELTIC took a major step towards the Champions League third qualifying round following a 2-0 home win over FC Stjarnan on Wednesday night.

Debutant Dedryck Boyata gave Ronny Deila’s side the lead one minute before the interval, with Stefan Johansen doubling the lead in 56 minutes - ­ but it could have been even better had substitute Leigh Griffiths converted an 81st-minute penalty.

The result gives the SPFL champions some breathing space going into next Wednesday’s return in Iceland.

Boyata and Nadir Ciftci made their competitive debuts, with the former Manchester City player starting alongside Charlie Mulgrew in the heart of the Hoops defence with Mikael Lustig at right-back and Emilio Izaguirre in his usual left-back slot.

Striker Ciftci, the most recent of Deila's four summer signings after arriving from Dundee United last week, was asked to lead the line with former Tannadice team-mates Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong also in the side.

There was a blow for the home side, however, when Mackay-Steven had to withdraw before kick-off, with Scotland winger James Forrest stepping in.

A mistake by the visitors gave Ciftci an early chance, but his turn and shot was saved by former Motherwell keeper Gunnar Nielsen.

And Nielsen came to the rescue again just on the half hour mark when he blocked an Armstrong effort.

However, with the home fans becoming increasingly frustrated as the half-time whistle approached, it was Boyata who headed home a Stefan Johansen cross to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead, and that would have been a huge relief for Deila.

Celtic started the second half the way they finished the first, and Ciftci headed a Forrest cross over the bar, but there was a let-off for the Hoops when Jeppe Hansen fired across the face of Craig Gordon’s goal.

Ciftci was again foiled by Nielsen, but the second goal was only delayed as Johansen finished coolly after Armstrong set him up with a perfect pass in 56 minutes.

Deila made his first change on the night on 61 minutes when Griffiths replaced Forrest.

Anthony Stokes then replaced Ciftci before the Hoops had the opportunity to make it 3-0 when Johansen was upended in the penalty area.

The Norwegian grabbed the ball and headed towards the penalty spot, but Griffiths insisted on taking the kick only to see his effort saved by Neilsen.

Deila’s final change came when Boyata went down off the ball and Efe Ambrose stepped into the back four, with the Nigerian receiving a yellow card after taking down Hansen.

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Forrest, Brown, Biton, Armstrong, Johansen, Ciftci. Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Stokes, Mackay-Steven, Rogic, Griffiths.

Stjarnan: Nielsen, Aegisson, Gudjonsson, Daniel Laxdal, Arnason, Praest, Johannsson, Bjorgvinsson, Finsen, Halldor Bjornsson, Hansen. Subs: Svinn Johannesson, Johann Laxdal, Thorri Runarsson, Gunnarson, Barddal, Alti Palsson, Knutsson.

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany).