Cristiano Ronaldo was the saviour for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once again as his header completed Manchester United’s brilliant 3-2 fightback win over Atalanta.
Like in the Red Devils’ win over Villarreal, Ronaldo got the decisive goal, which was a brilliant header from a cross from the left.
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This seemed unthinkable at half time as Man United found themselves 2-0 down thanks to goals from Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral.
Marcus Rashford, who had earlier hit the crossbar from close range, begun the fightback early in the second half.
There was also redemption for Harry Maguire, who had a shocker at Leicester and didn’t cover himself in glory for Atalanta’s second, equalised with a well-taken finish.
And the comeback was complete thanks to another marvellous Ronaldo moment, which has put Man United in charge of their Champions League group while also easing some of the pressure on Solskjaer.
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The victory provided a much-needed shot in the arm for United, who moved top of the group and welcome rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
They certainly will not want to give Jurgen Klopp’s men a two-goal head start as some abject defending saw them get in that situation after the opening 45.
Both goals were so simple for Atalanta – an unmarked Pasalic getting on the end of Davide Zappacosta’s low cross from the right on 15 minutes.
And just shy of the half hour mark the visitors doubled their advantage when Demiral shrugged off Maguire before flicking a corner from the right into the net.
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Man United had their fair share of chances but Fred, who curled just wide with his right foot and Marcus Rashford, who crashed the ball against the bar, lacked composure.
Rashford found much-needed composure after the break though, pulling a goal back as he slid the ball into the corner after latching onto a stunning outside of the boot Bruno Fernandes pass.
Scott McTominay then struck the post from point-blank range while Ronaldo’s left-footed strike was kept out by Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. Meanwhile, David de Gea kept United in it with a double save to deny Duvan Zapata and Ruslan Malinovskiy.
Maguire levelled on 75 minutes with a fine strike at Musso’s near post after Fernandes’ cross evaded everyone and dropped into the big centre-back’s path.
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The Stretford End fans were doing everything to suck the winner in but Fernandes failed to oblige when his strike was saved by Musso.
Musso could do nothing about Ronaldo, who saved the day for Man United, and maybe Solskjaer’s job too.
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