Poor Jota. That strike he hit in the Bernabèu was good enough to win a Champions League Final. The Portuguese talent managed to drive the ball past the best goalkeeper in the world, who up until that point looked like he was never going to be beaten by anyone in a Celtic shirt.
Kyogo, Juranovic and Giakoumakis all tried in vain to get Celtic up and running on the scoreboard but Thibault Courtois was imperious. Reminiscent of one Fraser Forster I might add. But he was eventually robbed of his clean sheet as the former Benfica player nabbed a memorable free-kick in front of footballing aristocracy.
Joao Pedro Neves Filipe celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on November 2, 2022. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
It really is a pity that the young man was not on the team which won 5-1, but try telling that to him as he was absolutely delighted afterwards. Sure, it didn’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things, but it was more an indication that he and his teammates have the quality needed to thrive at Champions League level.
PLZ Soccer caught up with him after the game and he was over the moon about his goal and general experience. Revealing it was quite the night for him, he categorised it by saying, “I think this was one of the best moments of my life!” Jota also reserved praise – as he always does – for the incredible support which never stopped throughout the entire 90 minutes in the Spanish capital.
Celtic’s Portuguese midfielder Joao Pedro Neves Filipe (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 6 Group F football match between Real Madrid CF and Celtic FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 2, 2022. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Watch both videos with Jota in the Bernabèu:
Paul Gillespie
THE CELTIC RISING IS OUT NOW!
