THE sun shone on Celtic Park last night. And not just metaphorically.

A goal in each half from Dedryck Boyata and Stefan Johansen respectively got Celtic’s European adventure off on the right foot.

But the Parkhead side will hope that they do not live to regret their inability to kill off the Icelandic side given the abundance of chances they created in front of goal, including a missed penalty in the latter stages of the game.

Bathed in balmy mid-summer hues, Celtic kicked off their European campaign in a climate more readily associated with languid pre-season friendlies and easy kickabouts rather than the tension and intensity that comes with a Champions League qualifier.

It is not in July that Celtic wish to be coping with the pressure of European football, but rather in late autumn, as the weather starts to bite and the skies have turned dark.

This, though, was the first step on what will be an arduous journey.

In many respects it was a very tentative foot forward but, ultimately, it should be enough for Celtic to allow themselves to start preparing for the next round that awaits.

Of course, they will need to see off FC Stjarnan in Iceland next Wednesday in the tiny ground that holds just 1000 spectators.

On last night’s evidence that should not be overly troublesome although it has to be said that Celtic made their task far harder than it ever needed to be against the Icelandic minnows.

It took until the cusp of the interval before Ronny Deila’s side have got their noses in front when Boyata had netted but by then they had brought out a sweat in former Motherwell keeper Gunnar Nielsen who had worked his socks off for the visitors.

Chance after chance was created by Celtic in the early stages with James Forrest – drafted in off the bench just before kick-off after an injury sustained in the warm-up to Gary Mackay-Steven – and surprise inclusion Nadir Ciftci linking well to exploit gaps in the Stjarnan defence.

Deila had hinted on Friday evening that he was contemplating throwing Ciftci into the fray for the game against the Icelandic minnows but nevertheless his start at the expense of Leigh Griffiths was still raised an eyebrow.

Yet, while the Turk was handed his chance to shine he will feel that he ought to have done better.

There will two chances that Ciftci could realistically have expected to shine, the first coming after just nine minutes in when Stefan Johansen pounced on an errant ball out of defence.

He fed Ciftci who rolled his marker before his shot was beaten away by Nielsen, the first of many times that the stopper would be called on throughout the 90 minutes.

As expected, Stjarnan offered very little resistance – but there was still enough on their odd forays forward to remind Celtic that defensively they need to sharpen up if they are to progress through the next two qualifying rounds, where the bar will be raised considerably higher.

At one point Emilio Izaguirre hooked a wayward ball into his own box which caused widespread consternation before being booted to safety.

Boyata and Charlie Mulgrew are never going to be anything other than a makeshift pairing – Virgil van Dijk was suspended having been sent off against Inter Milan in the Europa League game last season – but while Stjarnan were little more than average, there will be far testing evenings ahead and any sloppiness at the back – Celtic’s downfall last season in Europe – will not go unpunished.

But by and large there were a succession of chances for Celtic in what was mostly one-way traffic before the opening goal arrived.

Armstrong had broken through the Stjarnan defence only to have his shot saved by Nielsen, while Ciftci also had a header go just wide of the target after Stefan Johansen had picked him out.

Finally, though, Celtic’s pressure bore fruit and they got the lead from a set-piece.

The corner kick was a short one, with Lustig flicked the ball to Johansen who turned the ball across goal for Boyata to rise and convert.

Almost immediately Forrest could have made it two when he burst through but his attempt was just wide of the park.

One lapse of concentration, though, in the second period could have been costly for Celtic after Orri Halldor Bjorsson’s cross across the face of goal was steered wide.

Buoyed by their efforts, Stjarnan tried again, this time Hordur Arnason lifting a shot just over the bar but just as the Celtic Park crowd were starting to growl their frustration, Celtic got a much-needed second.

Armstrong, who played well throughout, was clever and swift with the ball at his feet, his vision sending Johansen through with the midfielder flicking the ball deftly into the net.

It eased the pressure on Celtic but they will kick themselves that the lead is not more comprehensive, especially given that they scorned the chance to land a third from the spot.

Arnason was guilty of a shove on Johansen and while the midfielder went to take the subsequent penalty, Griffiths, who had replaced Forrest just before the hour mark, signalled to the bench for clarity about spot-kick responsibilities.

It was the Scot who was given the nod, but his shot was weak and low and batted away by Nielsen - the keeper has saved a penalty from Celtic before when he denied Kris Commons from the spot in a 3-3 draw at Fir Park in his Motherwell days.

He was at it again as the game drew to a close, beating away a thumping drive from Johansen.

Celtic can only hope it does not come back to haunt them.