It was a rollercoaster of emotions at Old Trafford as another thrilling night of Champions League football concluded with Manchester United emerging as the victor. It was a game of two halves but in the end Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines once more with a brilliant winner that clinched all the three points for the Red Devils and fired them from fourth to first in a space of 53 minutes.
Just as it was the case in the comeback win over Villarreal in the last outing in the European competition, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men grew into the affair on the back foot, conceding the opening goal in just 15 minutes. With the backline exposed once again, Mario Pasalic simply had to tap home Davide Zappacosta's low cross past a motionless David de Gea to put La Dea ahead.
13 minutes later, Merih Demiral leapped past both Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire to head home Teun Koopmeiners' corner-kick to make sure that the visitors were two goals ahead going into the break. Needless to say, the tale could have been a bit different had both Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo taken a couple of chances that fell their way before half-time.
Still, a different Manchester United side emerged from the dugout in the second half to spark yet another remarkable comeback win in the ongoing competition. First, Marcus Rashford reduced the goal deficit to just one after combining with Bruno Fernandes in the 53rd minute. substitute Edinson Cavani then assisted Harry Maguire to score his first Champions League goal of the season for the Old Trafford outfit to restore parity in the 75th minute before Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the deal with the winning goal in what was his 300th appearance for the English club. The 36-year-old Portuguese attacker is now the first player to score against 38 different opponents in the history of the competition.
Watch his goal below:
CRISTIANOOOOO RONALDOOOO!!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 20, 2021
He always has to have his say, and he's come up with another big goal for Man Utd in the Champions League!
From 0-2 down to 3-2 up! pic.twitter.com/hF5p1R3d4D
With the result, Manchester United finish the third round in first position with six points from a possible nine. They are trailed by both Atalanta and Villarreal who have four points apiece but are seperated by goal difference.
Yes! The Theater Of Dreams is on fire! We are alive! We are Man. United and we never give up! This is Old Trafford! pic.twitter.com/3rsmOBpS8H
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 20, 2021
