Nadir Ciftci set up the only goal of the game for Gary Mackay-Steven as the new Celtic striker helped the hoops to a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at St Mirren Park.
Ronny Deila started with what looks like his side to face Stjarnan in Champions League action with Charlie Mulgrew featuring in central defence due to Virgil van Dijk being suspended for the match against the Icelanders.
The opening stages was almost like a possession game for the visitors with the Basque side pushing the ball around comfortably and probing at the Celtic defence.
In the 13th minute Sociedad hit the woodwork when a 22 yard effort cracked off Craig Gordon’s left hand post.
The Celtic support had filled St Mirren Park but found little to cheer about as their favourites, their all green change strip struggled to make any impression on the match.
On the positive side after badly opened up by Dukla Prague last weekend Celtic presented a much more compact unit with Nir Bitton making his first start of the season.
It took Celtic until the 31st minute to get a look at the Sociedad goal with Dedryck Boyata headed over from a Stefan Johansen corner with that chance signalling the start of some pressure from Ronny Deila’s side.
There was just one change at the start of the second half with Darnell Fisher a direct replacement for Mikael Lustig.
Celtic picked up where they left off with Leigh Griffiths hitting the post in the 50th minute after dispossessing a Sociedad defender at the edge of the penalty box.
Around the hour mark van Dijk replaced Bitton with Charlie Mulgrew stepping up into midfield before Ciftci was given a great reception as he replaced Griffiths in attack.
Ciftci didn’t take long to make his mark- earning a free kick then playing a 1-2 with Mackay-Steven that ended with the former Tannadice winger drilling home a low shot from 16 yards out.
Ciftci was put through one-on-one a few minutes later but the Sociedad keeper was well positioned and held the substitute’s shot.
There was no flagging in Celtic’s performance as they pushed through to the final whistle with Saidy Janko replacing Mackay-Steven with 15 minutes to play.
CELTIC: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Armstrong, Johansen, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths
SUBS: Fasan, Fisher, Forrest, Rogic, Henderson, Ciftci, van Dijk, Ambrose, Tierney, Stokes, Scepovic, Janko
