Uefa Champions League round-up: Celtic off to solid start in Iceland

Kris Commons, Leigh Griffiths and substitute Teemu Pukki all hit woodwork for the Scottish champions before Callum McGregor scored to secure a 1-0 advantage for the return leg while Cliftonville were held to a 0-0 draw by Hungarian side Debrecen.

REYKJAVIK // Celtic’s Uefa Champions League qualifying goal hero Callum McGregor is looking for a regular first-team place at Parkhead this season.

In Ronny Deila’s first competitive game since taking over from Neil Lennon last month, the Norwegian sprang something of a surprise when he handed the 21-year-old midfielder his competitive debut in the second qualifying round first leg against KR Reykjavik in Iceland.

But the Scotland Under-21 player, who spent a productive spell on loan at Notts County last season and impressed in pre-season friendlies, was to prove the difference.

In a frustrating night for the Scottish champions, Kris Commons, Leigh Griffiths and substitute Teemu Pukki all hit woodwork before 21-year-old McGregor drilled a shot low past home keeper Stefan Magnusson with seven minutes remaining to secure a 1-0 advantage for the return leg.

Now McGregor wants to keep his place.

He said: “I spent last season with Notts County in League One and I feel I have come back a better player. I feel that I am mentally ready to make the challenge.

“When you come back here you don’t want to leave. Being at Celtic means the world to me so if I can be here for a long time I will be delighted.

“Once I come in on Thursday I will get my head down and get working and strive to be better every day.

“But to score in the Champions League for Celtic - I have been there since I was nine years old - was a dream come true.

“It was a little bit of relief with it being 0-0 but I was absolutely delighted.

“It was a big night for the club, to strive to get Champions League football again, and that might be the goal that takes us through to the next round so I am absolutely delighted.”

On McGregor’s performance, Deila said: “I think he did well on his debut.

“He has big talent but I want him to be more direct, go forward more and link up more with the full-back, but that will come and I am very happy for him that he scored a goal.”

Cliftonville 0 Debrecen 0

Cliftonville were held to a 0-0 draw by Hungarian side Debrecen in Tuesday’s Champions League second qualifying round first leg at Solitude.

The Danske Bank Premiership hosts begin fairly brightly, with Chris Curran, Joe Gormley and Martin Donnelly bringing saves out of Nenad Novakovic.

But Debrecen threatened more and more as time went on and they hit the woodwork through Ibrahim Sidibe in the 56th minute.

As their opponents continued to make attempts on goal, Cliftonville offered little in response until the final 10 minutes, in which skipper Ronan Scannell and Curran were unable to convert decent opportunities.

Substitute L’Imam Seydi then did likewise for the visitors in the dying seconds.

Earlier, Welsh Premier League outfit The New Saints suffered a 1-0 defeat in Slovakia to Slovan Bratislava.

Marko Milinkovic and Juraj Halenar kept Saints goalkeeper Paul Harrison busy in the first half.

And he was beaten seven minutes after the break when defender Erik Cikos, who was on loan at Scottish side Ross County last season, rifled in.

Mike Wilde subsequently passed up a good chance to equalise as the away side finished empty-handed.

The second legs of both ties are scheduled to be played next Tuesday, July 22.

Other Champions League results from Tuesday

Valletta FC (MLT) 0 Qarabag (AZE) 1

Slovan Bratislava (SVK) 1 The New Saints (WAL) 0

BATE Borisov (BLR) 0 Skenderbeu (ALB) 0

FC Sheriff (MDA) 2 Sutjeska (MNE)0

Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 0 Maribor (SVN) 0

Santa Coloma (AND) 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) 1

Rabotnicki Skopje (MKD) 0 HJK Helsinki (FIN) 0

Sparta Prague (CZE) 7 Levadia Tallinn (EST) 0

Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 3 Torshavn (FRO) 0

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2 Zalgiris (LTU) 0

KR Reykjavik (ISL) 0 Celtic (SCO) 1

Champions League fixtures for Wednesday

Malmo (SWE) v Ventspils (LAT), Ludogorets (BUL) v Dudelange (LUX), Dinamo Tbilissi (GEO) v FC Aktobe (KAZ), Stromsgodset (NOR) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Legia Warsaw (POL) v Saint Patrick’s (IRL)

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