Why Celtic winger Jota is back to his terrorising best

The Portuguese winger headed home from the tightest of angles to break the deadlock five minutes into the second half at Tannadice.

Aaron Mooy, who provided the cross for Jota’s goal, then added a penalty soon after as Celtic overcame a stubborn United to make it 21 wins in 23 league games in this season’s Premiership.

Jota’s header early in the second period, his ninth goal in all competitions so far this season, capped a sparkling display on Tayside from the former Benfica wide man.

Left out from the start of some key games over the hectic winter schedule, notably at Easter Road and then Ibrox, the winger has looked back to his brilliant best in recent weeks, starting the last three league games in a row and playing from the start in the League Cup semi-final against Kilmarnock. 

Here, we break down his splendid performance through several key moments...

Through ball (1 min)

Celtic’s superstar from Portugal set the tone for an effervescent display within the opening seconds of the match.

After Dundee United launched a long ball deep into Celtic’s half from kick-off, Jota was sharp to nip in front of Liam Smith to win the subsequent loose ball. 

As the ball then broke across the pitch, Jota made himself available for right-back Alistair Johnston, who picked up the ball in an inverted position.

The Canadian played a crisp ball into Jota who took it in his stride, skipping away from United midfielder Craig Sibbald.

Behind the hosts' midfield line within 30 seconds, Jota drove through the middle before sliding a perfectly weighted between United’s left centre-back Scott McMann and left wing-back Aziz Behich for Kyogo Furuhashi to run onto.

The Japanese striker was unable to make the most of Jota’s defence-splitting pass though, firing the first big chance of the game wide. 

Cross/shot (21 mins)

From that initial pass, it was clear that Jota was more than in the mood, running United right wing-back Kieran Freeman ragged in particular throughout the first half.

Having already flicked the ball through the young defender's legs to drift inside to cross within five minutes, he then showcased that ability to go either way by driving the outside to cross on 18 minutes.

Jota’s box of tricks was well and truly open when he produced a cross with the outside of the boot on 21 minutes.

Brilliantly found by Reo Hatate with a delightful backheel that took both Freeman and Smith out of the game, Jota showcased that elite technical ability once again with a first-time cross with the outside of his right foot.

Although into a decent area, the cross was cleared by the United defence. However, it was again Jota that was first to the loose ball on the edge of the box, controlling well with his chest before unleashing a powerful right-footed drive on the half-volley that was beaten away at the near post by United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

With still only 20 odd minutes of the clock, this was another passage of play that highlighted just how much Jota was in the mood on Sunday night.

In total in the opening 45 minutes at Tannadice, Jota was Celtic’s biggest creative force, registering three shots and attempting four crosses.

Shot (49 mins)

Despite none of his efforts in the first half leading to a breakthrough, Jota picked up exactly where left off following the restart with right centre-back Smith the latest to be left in the Portuguese wake just seconds into the second half.

Dropping the shoulder once again, the winger left Smith for dead out wide, cutting into the box to flash a shot across Birighitti’s goal that only just missed the target.

A fourth effort that didn’t find its way past the United goalkeeper, Jota certainly made his fifth just two minutes later.

Goal (51 mins)

Midfielder Mooy, who also produced another fine performance at Tannadice, did well to dig out a cross that goalkeeper Birighitti misjudged. Freeman was also guilty of allowing Jota to ghost in at the back post unchallenged.

Despite that, Jota’s header back across the goal, while almost off the park, was incredible. Statistically his ‘best’ chance of the game, the opportunity still only carried an xG value of 0.15. The post-shot xG value of 0.50 highlights Jota’s accuracy from an almost impossible angle though.

Just rewards for an impressive performance, Jota’s opener was his seventh league goal this season, only three off his total for last season in the Premiership.

StatsBomb data

StatsBomb’s data from Sunday also highlights Jota’s impact. The data provider now measures pass contributions with their on-ball value metric (often referred to as OBV, a term breakdown can be read here).

Although he only completed 15 passes in his 67-minute showing, the winger registered the highest OBV value of any player on the pitch (0.79).

His five shots had a total xG of 0.37 while he also assisted a further 0.11 xG for his teammates.

One criticism could be that 0.37 xG from five shots, which worked out at just 0.07 xG per shot, suggests he possibly took one or two shots more from lower-quality areas than he really should have.

Something that has been levelled at him in the past on this occasion, it is a minor quibble. With United sitting so deep too, Celtic did need to try and mix up their approach, evidenced by Jota’s goal which came from a deep cross, something we are not always used to seeing from Postecoglou’s side

His overall impact on the game probably overshadows any shot-selection issues on this occasion either way.

In terms of his work off the ball, Jota played his part there on Sunday too. He exerted eight pressures and one counter-pressures as well as making three tackles and interceptions.

Conclusion

Replaced by Daizen Maeda on 67 minutes, Jota’s dazzling display at Tannadice was the Portuguese winger at his entertaining best.

We don’t know for sure whether it was down to form, fitness or other reasons that he found himself out of the starting 11 for some big games recently.

That already seems in the distant past though.

Jota is well and truly back in the groove now, and it is such a joy to see.