The Scottish champions reached the last 16 of the competition last season before being knocked out in extra-time against eventual winners AC Milan, and simply reaching the group stages should be worth around $25million.

Quinn was in the Luzhniki stadium last night to see Paul Hartley give the visitors the lead with his first goal for the club since signing from Hearts in January.

Sparta striker Roman Pavlyuchenko headed an equaliser three minutes before the interval but Celtic chief Quinn is optimistic that another huge financial windfall and more big European nights are on the way.

Quinn told PA Sport: "It was a wonderful result, we are ever so pleased.

"I don't want to sound curmudgeonly or miserable but it has to be one step at a time.

"However, we are more than halfway there with the away goal.

"The players are serious about converting that into a result that takes us into the group stages and I would back them to do it.

"I think it will be a different proposition for Spartak in Glasgow.

"In Moscow they play in an Olympic stadium where the pitch is away back from the fans because it has a running track round it.

"It will be a new experience for them to play in front of 60,000 fans shouting their team on so I think the odds are in our favour."

Celtic defender Mark Wilson revealed how Hartley had joked about the significance of his first goal for the club.

The former Dundee United full-back told PA Sport: "It was a brilliant goal by Paul.

"He was in the dressing room saying that he only scores £10million goals - he only scores when it matters!

"I'm sure he will kick on from here and score many more, the way he did with Hearts.

"It was great to get a 1-1 draw on that plastic surface and we would have taken that result before the game.

"They knew what they were doing, they got right at us straight away and made it difficult for us.

"But we rode the storm, nicked a goal and apart from the goal that we lost, we defended quite well."

Wilson paid European debutant goalkeeper Mark Brown the highest compliment possible by claiming that regular number one Artur Boruc, who has missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury, has not been missed.

Brown pulled off a terrific save from Welliton near the end to keep the tie level with the return a fortnight away in Glasgow.

Wilson said: "It was a great save and he showed the quality that he has got.

"You feel confident with Mark behind you, just as confident as you do with Artur.

"Celtic Park is always good on Champions League nights so it will be great in the second leg.

"The crowd make it special and it's left to us to finish the job that we started in Moscow."