Celtic were having a party in the Champions League as Brendan Rodgers's side got their league phase off to a flyer with a thumping 5 -1 win over Slovan Bratislava at Parkhead.

The men in green and white also created a slice of history in the process as they won their opening group phase game for the first time.

Liam Scales helped Celtic grab the perfect start after just 17 minutes when he bulleted home a header following Arne Engels's corner kick from the left.

Kyogo - who was guilty of missing two gilt-edged chances - finally atoned for those errors when he bundled home the second two minutes after the restart after Nicolas Kuhn's cross from the right.

It was all Celtic and the Dutch referee Danny Makkeile awarded the hosts a spot-kick on 56 minutes. Engles despatched from 12 yards with ease for the second game running just as he did against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Slovan Bratislava's Kevin Wimmer put a slight dampener on proceedings when he scored a beauty on the hour mark with the outside of the foot which took a nick of Cameron Carter-Vickers head on the way in.

Daizen Maeda kept his cool after being slipped in by compatriot Reo Hatate to slot home to make 4-1 on the night with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Substitute James Forrest combined with fellow sub Adam Idah who drilled home to make it 5-1 on an unforgettable night at Parkhead as the Irishman claimed his first goal of his second spell with Celtic and his first-ever strike in the Champions League.

This was a standout performance from the Scottish champions which was lapped up by a fanatical and partisan support who have been starved of success at this level for so long.

Celtic are loving Engels instead

Celtic’s Arne Engels celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game Celtic’s Arne Engels celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game (Image: Andrew Milligan)The £11 million man  Engels picked the biggest stage of them all to announce his arrival as a Celtic player. The Belgian international looked right at home in the Champions League. His set-piece delivery was bang on the money all evening and it was no surprise when Celtic gained the lead after 17 minutes following the midfielder's wicked corner kick that was expertly bulleted home by the head of Scales. He also thumped in two ferocious right-foot efforts that had to be beaten away by Slovan Bratislava goalkeeper Dominik Takac in either half which denied the Scottish champions a killer second goal. Celtic have snared another intelligent footballer who will grow, progress and develop under Rodgers. The 21-year-old oozes class and quality showed his true worth. He tucked home his second penalty in successive matches with real aplomb to make it 3-0 and game over on 56 minutes. He is a cool customer on and off the ball. The transfer fee is already proving to be money well spent even at this early juncture as Engels proved that he belonged at the elite level of club football.

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Liam Scales is showing that he can be 'Trustyd'

The Irishman kept up his remarkable start to the season as he smashed home his first-ever Champions League goal from Engels's sweet corner from the left to get the Scottish champions off to the perfect start. The Celtic supporters were desperately craving an upgrade on Scales in the summer transfer window and Rodgers splashed out £6 million on USA international Auston Trusty. However, the American will need to wait a little bit longer because Scales' form so far this season has been nothing short of imperious.

The manager knows what he has in Scales. Rodgers once labelled Scales as one of the biggest surprises of his managerial career. He continues to surprise and defy the critics with his attitude and application despite the negativity that constantly swirls around him. Scales is thriving and his confidence is brimming at the minute. He is a solid, consummate professional who can be 'Trustyd' all day long.

Kyogo can be profligate at times 

Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates (Image: A Milligan) The Japanese striker bagged the clinching second goal as he prodded home Nicolas Kuhn's cross from the right from close range minutes after the interval. It was the talisman's 75th goal in Celtic colours as he sent Parkhead into raptures. That was the good side of Kyogo.

There was also another side as he should have helped himself to a first-half double and let the crowd breathe more easily. However, he spurned two golden opportunities at this level and not for the first time in his Champions League career it has to be said. His finishing at times since the start of the season has left a lot to be desired.

He was guilty of missing an absolute sitter seconds after Scales had opened the scoring for Celtic when Takac jabbed out a leg to deny him. He then crashed another opportunity over the crossbar when he ought to have hit the target. The worry for Rodgers and Celtic is that the talisman is making a regular habit of missing gilt-edged chances in almost every game. 

Brendan Rodgers's men have served notice 

What a display from Rodgers's team! No wonder the Irishman said that this was the best he had ever felt as Celtic boss heading into the Champions League. His team bossed it from start to finish and this was a rip-roaring, free-scoring, never-boring performance.

We have waited a long time to see a Celtic team be so rampant and dominant at the elite club level in Glasgow's east end. The team in green and white delivered at last on the stage where it mattered most. The 51-year-old admits that it is his ambition to turn Celtic into a force in the European arena. There is a battered reputation and pride to be restored in European football's premier club competition.

Rodgers has every right to feel confident that his team are finally ready to compete and claim a few scalps and not just participate. From small acorns and all that. Rodgers could not have asked for any more. Celtic have given themselves a platform upon which to build into the tournament proper. Roll on Matchday Two.