Jota suffered a cruciate ligament injury at Tannadice in April 2025, sidelining him for nearly 18 months before his emotional comeback on Sunday.
After enduring three consecutive defeats in the weeks before the international break—two of them losses to fierce rivals Rangers—Martin O'Neill's Celtic side halted their slide with a commanding 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday. The win restored the Glasgow club to the top of the Scottish Premiership table and provided a much-needed lift to supporters who had grown increasingly frustrated with recent performances.
Camilo Duran opened the scoring early in the match, while midfielder Benjamin Nygren sealed the result with a second-half goal. The performance was particularly impressive given the attacking dominance Celtic displayed throughout: according to match statistics, the visitors registered 25 shots with 15 on target and won nine corners, while Motherwell managed only eight shots with two on target and two corners.
The standout narrative of the afternoon, however, was the return of influential Portuguese winger Jota, who came off the bench as a 74th-minute substitute after an absence stretching back 533 days. His reappearance marked his 100th appearance for Celtic and represented a watershed moment for both player and club. Despite limited time on the pitch, Jota made an immediate impact, nearly setting up a goal with his first touches and visibly energising the team and crowd.
Speaking to a national broadcaster after the match, Jota reflected on his long road back to fitness.
"I was waiting on this for a long time. Just happy to be back. I've been working hard, the guys have been helping me as well. It was just the normal nerves, but after I stepped on the pitch everything goes well."
When asked about the psychological weight of his extended injury layoff, the 27-year-old used an emotional metaphor to convey the depth of his struggle.
"Imagine if someone takes away your child and I've got my child back today - that's how I've been feeling the last year. I found my child again today and I just want to keep it as long as I can. I'm feeling very good and I'm ready to play more and more and help the team. I know what I can do."
How does this result change Celtic's position?
The victory represents a significant turnaround for O'Neill's squad. According to match reports, the win was Celtic's seventh in eight league matches this season, demonstrating that Sunday's result fits into a broader pattern of competitive form despite the recent stumble. The return to the summit of the Premiership provides psychological momentum heading into a demanding fixture schedule.
The atmosphere at full-time stood in sharp contrast to the despondency that had engulfed the club in recent weeks. Beyond the disappointing sequence of results, Celtic had faced external pressures, including a protest directed at the club's largest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament at St Andrews. O'Neill himself had questioned his own resolve to continue as manager following Rangers' victory at Parkhead the previous month, before ultimately deciding to remain in post.
What did the manager say about his team's performance?
O'Neill expressed satisfaction with both the result and the manner of the victory, acknowledging that the club had weathered a difficult period.
"Of course, there was a lot of noise and a lot of it we brought on ourselves as well too. So, nice to win. We have to take the criticism at the time. We lost three matches in a week - two to our big rivals. But we fought back today and let's see what Thursday brings."
Despite Celtic's profligacy in front of goal—Motherwell goalkeeper Alex Paulsen produced a season-high 12 saves to keep the scoreline respectable—O'Neill was not troubled by the number of missed opportunities.
"We had a lot of chances and we could have [scored more]. The first goal's really important, a great goal by Camilo and it settled us down which was good. A lot of things have flashed across the box, a number of chances in both halves, but delighted to win. Just really pleased. Pleased with the performance, pleased with the energy that we showed and delighted to win. It's psychologically a big boost to play as well as we did and go back to the top of the table."
Former Scotland defender Willie Miller offered his perspective on O'Neill's turnaround in mood and fortunes.
"I could only imagine the pressure on Martin O'Neill - I know what it's like in Glasgow if you are beaten by Rangers twice. But it seems like he's got his mojo back and is back to his old form and that's what results do. All round, when you look at his team, it must give him a lot of satisfaction."
Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson acknowledged his side's inferiority on the day, stating that
"Today, we were the inferior team. Celtic outperformed us."
What challenges lie ahead for Celtic?
O'Neill's reference to "Thursday" points to an imminent and substantial test. Celtic are scheduled to travel to face Portuguese giants Benfica on 15 October in the Europa League, a fixture that will demand a significant step up in intensity from the domestic encounter against Motherwell. The club will then host Hearts on 18 October in the Scottish Premiership, before facing another demanding Europa League assignment against Celta Vigo.
The Hearts fixture carries additional context: Benfica defeated Hearts 7-2 on aggregate in European qualifiers earlier in the season, underlining the calibre of opposition Celtic will encounter in continental competition. The sequence of fixtures will test whether Sunday's resurgence represents a genuine shift in momentum or merely a temporary respite.
Jota's availability for these upcoming matches remains to be determined, though his successful 45-minute appearance in a bounce game against Falkirk during the international break suggests his integration into match action is progressing steadily. His return to full fitness could prove decisive in Celtic's efforts to maintain their challenge both domestically and in Europe.
Key Facts
- Celtic defeated Motherwell 2-0 to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership following three consecutive defeats
- Jota made his first appearance in 533 days, marking his 100th outing for the club, coming off the bench in the 74th minute
- Celtic dominated possession and chances, registering 25 shots with 15 on target, while Motherwell managed only eight shots with two on target
- The victory extends Celtic's record to seven wins in their last eight league matches this season
- Celtic face Benfica away on 15 October in the Europa League, followed by a home fixture against Hearts on 18 October
