Jota comeback helps Celtic lift gloom in strong response

What the report says

Celtic responded to a difficult spell by beating Motherwell 2-0 at Fir Park and moving back to the top of the Scottish Premiership. BBC Sport reported that the win ended a run of three straight defeats before the international break, including two losses to Rangers, and offered a much-needed lift for Martin O’Neill’s team and their supporters.

Camilo Duran scored the opening goal early in the match and Benjamin Nygren added a second in the second half. The performance was also notable for the return of winger Jota, who came off the bench after nearly 18 months out with a serious knee injury sustained in April 2025. He was introduced late in the game and played a lively part in the closing stages.

Jota described the comeback as an emotional moment and said he had worked hard to get back. His return added to the positive mood around Celtic, which had been clouded by recent criticism and off-field tension, including protest activity aimed at majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, as reported by BBC Sport. The club now faces a tougher stretch, with a Europa League match against Benfica followed by domestic and continental fixtures.

O’Neill said the result and performance were important after recent pressure, noting that the first goal helped settle his side. Motherwell’s goalkeeper Alex Paulsen made a series of saves, but Celtic still created enough chances to win comfortably and regain momentum.