Jota made a dream return to Celtic Park this afternoon, coming off the bench in the second half before sealing the victory with the final kick of the game. The Portuguese winger slotted home Celtic’s third goal deep into stoppage time, rounding off a 3-1 win over Motherwell.
It was a moment filled with emotion, as Jota—who has endured a tough 18 months since leaving the club—was visibly in tears as he made his way back to the halfway line. The Celtic fans had been singing his name, and the occasion clearly meant everything to him.
🎙️ “Jota is back!”
🔥 The winger marks his return to Celtic with a late goal ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/6FZH7LNj1x
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 2, 2025
Since his departure, the 25-year-old has struggled to find stability in his career, with his move to Saudi Arabia falling flat before an underwhelming spell at Rennes . But in just a brief cameo today, Jota looked like he had never been away, bringing flair and energy to Celtic’s attack before delivering the perfect finale.
Celtic’s win ensures they maintain their ten-point lead at the top of the Premiership table, with a game in hand against Rangers still to come on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers’ side continue to march towards the title, and with Jota back in the mix, the Hoops have another major weapon at their disposal for the run-in.
