Jota returns to help Celtic beat Motherwell and reclaim top spot
Celtic returned to the Scottish Premiership summit with a 2-0 win over Motherwell, as Jota made his long-awaited return from a knee injury after 18 months.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Celtic secured a 2-0 victory away at Motherwell to climb back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.
- Winger Jota made his emotional return as a 74th-minute substitute after nearly 18 months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
- Camilo Duran opened the scoring early on before Benjamin Nygren sealed the win in the second half.
- Manager Martin O'Neill praised the team's strong response following three consecutive defeats prior to the international break.
Following weeks of friction and mounting pressure at Celtic, the full-time scenes at Fir Park on Sunday provided a much-needed wave of relief for a frustrated fanbase as the team returned to winning ways.
Martin O'Neill's side entered the fixture on the back of three straight defeats before the international break—including two damaging losses to arch-rivals Rangers. Those results had sparked protests against major shareholder Dermot Desmond during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament in St Andrews and left O'Neill briefly questioning his own future before committing to stay.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Any lingering tension was eased as the visitors comfortably defeated struggling Motherwell 2-0, a result that propelled them back to the summit of the Scottish Premiership table. Camilo Duran fired Celtic ahead early in the first half, while midfielder Benjamin Nygren secured the three points with a crucial goal after the break.
Aside from the performance and the vital three points, the afternoon's biggest narrative belonged to influential winger Jota. The 27-year-old made his long-awaited comeback from a cruciate ligament injury sustained at Tannadice in April 2025, stepping onto the pitch as a 74th-minute substitute and immediately injecting lively energy into the attack.
"I found my child again today and I just want to keep it as long as I can."
Jota
Reflecting on the immense psychological toll of his lengthy spell on the sidelines, an emotional Jota shared his joy after leading the post-match celebrations with the traveling supporters. Manager Martin O'Neill also addressed the turbulent period leading up to the fixture:
"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."
Martin O'Neill
Jota's emotional return and this crucial away win serve as a vital psychological turning point for Celtic. After enduring intense scrutiny from supporters, consecutive derby defeats to Rangers, and boardroom-level protests, regaining momentum domestically was essential to steady the club ahead of a grueling European schedule.
Though Celtic squandered numerous opportunities—with Motherwell goalkeeper Alex Paulsen pulling off 12 saves during the match—O'Neill remained unfazed by his side's profligacy, expressing total satisfaction with the team's energy and overall display.
Attention now turns to a demanding European fixture list as Celtic prepare to face Portuguese giants Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by matches against Hearts and Celta Vigo.
Source: BBC Sport
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