Spartak Moscow 1 Celtic 1: Celtic's mission to Moscow yielded a valuable draw and an away goal as they put themselves in a healthy position in the tricky Champions League qualifier.

Summer signing Scott Brown had a terrific chance to hit a late winner and repay a chunk of his £4.4million fee, but the Scotland midfielder failed to convert from close range, while Spartak hit the bar in the last minute of the third qualifying round tie.

The home side looked inspired from the first whistle, forcing a startled looking Celtic side back on to the back foot.

In the third minute, Spartak defender Florin Soava crashed a shot against defender John Kennedy inside the Celtic penalty area which had the home side demanding a penalty to no avail.

Pavlyuchenko soon had the ball in the net from six yards after Brazilian star Welliton left Kennedy for dead on the left. Pavlyuchenko produced a neat finish, hooking the ball in after rushing ahead of the pass, but the strike was disallowed for offside.

A clever back-heel from Welliton across the face of the Celtic goal had the visiting defence in trouble again and there seemed no respite for the Scots side.

However, the tie was turned on its head in the 21st minute when the Scottish champions took the lead with their first effort on goal.

McDonald looked suspiciously offside when he collected a Shunsuke Nakamura pass down the right — but the little striker crossed a delightful ball to Hartley, who bulleted a header from 10 yards past Stipe Pletikosa and into the corner of the net.

But three minutes before the break the home side were level. Roman Shishkin's cross from the right was met by Pavlyuchenko and although his close-range header was parried by Mark Brown, the ball escaped over the line.

The home side had regained the initiative by the time the interval arrived and they were quick on the ascendancy after the break.

Spartak should have taken the lead in the 65th minute when Welliton delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right to strike partner Pavlyuchenko.

However, from only eight yards, the tall Spartak player headed downwards and the ball bounced up from the artificial turf and went over the bar.

The Russians were still unable to find the second goal they dearly wanted to give them a first-leg advantage however.

A thumping header from Welliton was well blocked by Mark Brown but the best chance in the closing stages fell to Celtic.

Scott Brown timed his run just right to collect substitute McGeady's clever pass, which dissected the Spartak defence and found the midfielder all alone, 12 yards from goal.

Brown also nudged wide of Pletikosa and looked to have a simple task of slotting home, but he turned too slowly and was unable to gain control as the Spartak number one recovered to snatch the ball.

Radoslav Kovac's header bounced off the Celtic bar in the dying stages as the Scottish champions held on