Celtic 6 KR Reykjavik 0: Elyounoussi bags two as Hoops romp in Champions League qualifier… on same day as semi-final

CELTIC battered their way into the second qualifying round of the Champions League - on the day PSG reached the 2020 final.

A double from Mohamed Elyounoussi, plus goals from Chris Jullien, Greg Taylor, Odsonne Edouard and an own goal from Arnor Adalsteinsson saw Neil Lennon’s Hoops avoid a one-off banana skin against the Icelanders.

The Scots have failed to qualify for the group stage of Europe’s elite competition since 2017.

And they will hope the new one-legged  format — up until the play-off round — will work to their advantage in a bid to play among the  big boys.

Celtic now have just a week to rest before the second round against either Hungarians Ferencvaros or Swedish champs Djurgarden.

The Hoops  barely got out of second gear against an  inept KR Reykjavik at Parkhead.

There was an eerie silence without the raucous home fans  at the usually bouncing venue — but  Lennon’s men did their best to up the ante early on.

EDOUARD SOLO SPECIAL

Jullien lifted a long ball over the top into miles of space for Southampton loan winger  Elyounoussi to latch on to.

He rounded the goalkeeper with his first touch and slotted into an empty net after just six minutes.

Reykjavik were playing more expansively knowing this was a winner-takes-all clash.

 But that played right into Celtic’s hands as they grabbed a second before the 20-minute mark.

Working it well from the back, it was sent wide to full-back Hatem Elhamed — whose low ball into the six-yard box was waiting to be tapped home.

Instead, defender Adalsteinsson nestled the ball in his own net.

More poor defending was to follow 15 minutes before the break as  centre-back Jullien leapt  to head home Ryan Christie’s corner into the  roof of the net.

Celtic went into the break with 16 shots — 11 of those on target — and had another within seconds of the restart to grab their fourth.

Full-back to full-back, Elhamed’s deep cross found Taylor to nod in at the far post.

Edouard piled misery on  the Icelandic champions on 72 minutes with a superb solo goal.

Elyounoussi grabbed his second at the death, teed up by sub Olivier Ntcham's sublime pass.

Meanwhile, Northern Irish champs LINFIELD went out 1-0 to LEGIA WARSAW after ex-Oldham striker Kirk Millar was sent off for the visiting Blues.