Manchester United were looking down and in trouble in Bergamo until Cristiano Ronaldo popped up with a stunning strike to rescue a point and their Champions League hopes.
The Portuguese forward's late equaliser - his second of the game - is the difference between the Red Devils ending the night third and first, as they have done.
Throughout the Group F encounter, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were second best to Gian Piero Gasperini's, but, as he has been so often before, Ronaldo was the difference. Although on this occasion, that difference was between a loss which wouldn't have been undeserved and a snatched point to keep their noses in front in the group.
Twice, the home side took the lead in Italy - first through Josip Ilicic and then Duvan Zapata - but twice Ronaldo hit back, in stoppage time at the end of both halves. His first equaliser came on the end of a decent United move and the assist was a wonderfully executed backheel from compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
Then, in dramatic fashion, it was Ronaldo again who grabbed a point were it seemed like United were destined to head home with none. The 36-year-old was trying to force the issue, driving in from the left but was frustrated by the Atalanta defence but Mason Greenwood helped it back to him and he sent a fantastic low volley across goal into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
It is remarkable how many times Ronaldo has bailed out United this season, twice in this game alone. It's surely not sustainable, but it has kept them on course for the last 16.
Dosalmpstz
347
ManU current style of play will never allow any young player to shine under such style. 1 The players are too lazy and not fully dedicated to the club. 2 The coach looks faded and clueless 3 The management team are just not ready to grow. 4 Even Ole himself lives for the next day as he awaits another miracle goals and victory over opposition. 5 Maguire should be kicked out of the club as he doesn't have what it takes to be part of United. 6 Ole has long overstayed his suppposed stay time. 7 Pleas tell me what style of play or formation does ManU play? 8 Until ManU start playing attacking football like ManCity and Liverpool we are still far from smelling any trophy. 9 Until we start using the likes of Lingard, Van de beak and other young players to form good force, ManU will keep going down. 10 Until we realise the best two players we have now are Lingard and Fred whom are very vibrant and can tacle and attack you till you giveup, ManU won't make top 5 list. Thanks so much for making out time to read and learn. Please watch our daily predictions on Youtube Pep sports predition Tv and follow us on Instagram PepIyke
EMBOR
212
I declare Ronaldo as the Goat πππ
TapanAjmera
151
but but after that Liverpool game some football pundits saying ronaldo is the problem they need to bench him..because he is not defending the ball...guess what real problem is defenders and ole lol not ronaldo look at juvantus peeps saying ronaldo is problem there also but no buddy saying juvantus is back pass fc ronaldo wasted 3 years of his career in seria a not wasting time with man utd he should have choose psg 3 years back messi is master of choosing right team..
HDavies
141
It doesnβt surprise anymore cause he is the greatest at the highest stage
RealMadridKipgen
122
Cristiano Ronaldo is The Greatest of All time. Some clowns will obviously bring up assist but what they don't know is that assist means all the passes that were made in building up the Goal. So crediting a single player for an assist is absolute joke. Sometime all the players are involve in assisting a goal. But the true brilliance in converting those passes to goals is all that matters in the game of football. You can dribble 999 times, pass 888 times, but if you can't score a goal.. it dosn't matter. Football is decided on goals.
RazaAhmad7
118
i am a Ronaldo fan.but no idea why he is saving ole job everytime.look at our group and our squad and we made it difficult like we played against bayern and some other big teams .thy only reason we made it difficult is ole.because ole don't no the tactics.sometime 4 2 3 1 sometime 5 3 2.and benching sancho greenwood van dee beek and baeily.so we need a proper manger like zidane or ten hag.and these are the perfect man united lines with best players.maybe in 2nd fromation you can play greenwood over sancho or alex telles over shaw but otherwize these both fromations with those players were perfect for united.
Desmondeyum
94
Absolute brick wall. Ronaldo takes the headlines, but he kept utd in the game π₯
Blessedwinner55
64
the GOAT for a reason
KHMMURU07
58
Haters smiling thought the clock and then came 90+1 minutes β»π
hibabkpru
18
Messi fans always say he stands in the box waiting for the ball, but i see all the two goals vs Atalanta coming from the build up where he was seriously involved, what a ππππ
nawknosyz
9
shut up There is only one Goat Messi Cr7 level is just like a Gardener in King's Palace
Says a guy whose parents regret not using a condom that night