Ronaldo Rescues Man United Once Again As Barcelona Finally Get First Win

21st October 2021

United’s attacking arsenal blew the Italians away after the break as Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire drew them level before Ronaldo powered home a header nine minutes from time

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (second left) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with Harry Maguire during the UEFA Champions League, Group F match at Old Trafford, Manchester. PHOTO | Alamy
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (second left) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with Harry Maguire during the UEFA Champions League, Group F match at Old Trafford, Manchester. PHOTO | Alamy
SUMMARY
  • Manchester United needed another Champions League comeback as they came from two goals down to beat Atalanta 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday
  • Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero yet again as he scored the winner nine minutes from time to ensure than Man United are top of Group F
  • Elsewhere, Gerard Pique sparked Barcelona’s flailing Champions League campaign into life on Wednesday by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, a victory that was witnessed by a half-empty Camp Nou

Manchester United needed another Champions League comeback as they came from two goals down to beat Atalanta 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Goals from Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men on course for a fifth defeat in eight games.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero yet again as he scored the winner nine minutes from time to ensure than Man United are top of Group F.

However, United’s attacking arsenal blew the Italians away after the break as Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire drew them level before Ronaldo powered home a header nine minutes from time.

"We have a habit of doing this at this club.

"I thought in the first half we played some good stuff, created chances, we just couldn’t take them. The difference was the quality of finishing was much better in the second half," " said Solskjaer, who famously completed a late comeback to win the Champions League as a player in 1999.

Questions will continue to be asked of Solskjaer’s ability to get the best out of such a richly talented squad but a much-needed win to move to the top of Group F eases the mounting pressure on the Norwegian.

Elsewhere, Gerard Pique sparked Barcelona’s flailing Champions League campaign into life on Wednesday by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, a victory that was witnessed by a half-empty Camp Nou.

The attendance was recorded at 45,968, with several blocks of seating filled by only a handful of supporters for a game coach Ronald Koeman said the team had to win to have any chance of reaching the last 16.

After losing both of their opening games in Group E 3-0 to Bayern Munich and Benfica, Barcelona needed victory to resuscitate their chances of progress and avoid the embarrassment of going out in the group stage for the first time since 2000.

Pique at least ensured the job was done in that regard, his close-range finish towards the end of a dreary first half enough to get Barca up and running, with a crucial game away in Kiev now to come in two weeks’ time.