Manchester United completed a comeback from a two-goal deficit to beat Atalanta 3-2 in UEFA Champions League Group F on Wednesday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late winner for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men. Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral had given the Italians a significant advantage in the first half before the hosts began their second-half recovery.
Marcus Rashford got things started before a crucial David De Gea save kept the deficit at one goal shortly before Harry Maguire leveled for United.
HT: Man Utd 0-2 Atalanta
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 20, 2021
53': Rashford ⚽
75': Maguire ⚽
81': Ronaldo ⚽
Man Utd turned it on in the second half to complete the comeback ✅ pic.twitter.com/FhCXCtXdeU
It was left to Ronaldo to score the winning goal nine minutes from time to take some significant heat away from Solskjaer, who had looked like he was headed for some strong criticism. While that critique will remain, the blow has been significantly softened ahead of a crucial weekend clash with Liverpool in the Premier League.
Some takeaways.
3 - Manchester United have won a Champions League game from 2+ goals down for the third time – no side has done so more often in the competition (Arsenal also 3). Hustled. pic.twitter.com/NItwvpczXI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 20, 2021
Once again, the Norwegian appeared to be at a tactical loss and was bailed out by his key players with Rashford, De Gea, Maguire and Ronaldo all coming good just in time to save him from deserved criticism. It feels like there is only so much longer that these sorts of scenarios can play out in Solskjaer's favor but he will not be complaining about this timely turn of events.
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1 - Manchester United have ended a Champions League first half at Old Trafford trailed by two goals for the first time in their history. Gasp!#ManUtdAtalanta #UCL pic.twitter.com/eVDV3hUdpU
— OptaPaolo 🏆 (@OptaPaolo) October 20, 2021
Having done so well to open up a two-goal lead, Gian Piero Gasperini's men thought they had done enough and switched off. They rallied once Rashford scored and were denied a third by an excellent De Gea. However, they were not their usual relentless selves and that worked against them here as it allowed United to get back into the game.
59 - Only two matchdays in Champions League history have seen more goals than MD3 of 2021/22 (59) : 63 goals during the 2000/01 season MD1 and 62 in the 2020/21 MD3. Party. #UCL pic.twitter.com/0LbtVEomTP
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 20, 2021
Had the Spaniard not made a key intervention at 2-1, United might well have gone on to lose the game. It was a defining moment and the complexion of the match quickly changed once Maguire levelled in impressive fashion. De Gea has been an important figure so far this campaign and his current form is currently keeping him first choice.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 38 teams in the #UCL.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 20, 2021
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/x9V8uHhbH7
The Portugal international was in his element as the match swung in United's favor and the win suddenly became a possibility, so it was no surprise to see him putting the finishing touches to such a dramatic spectacle and ensuring that the defining moment was once more about him.
United have done it! Solskjaer's men are 3-2 winners and overturn Atalanta's two-goal lead at Old Trafford. Rashford, Maguire and Ronaldo with the second half goals after Pasalic and Demiral had given the Italians a cushion.
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