Cristiano Ronaldo scored another late goal to rescue Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday, as his former club Juventus and Bayern Munich both secured qualification for the last 16 with two group games to spare.
Ronaldo fired in from the edge of the box a minute into injury time to snatch United a 2-2 draw with Atalanta in Italy and keep them on course to qualify from Group F.
The competition’s all-time top scorer had earlier canceled out Josip Ilicic’s opener to equalize at the end of a slick team move in first-half stoppage time.
However, having lost Raphael Varane to injury before that, United went behind again in the 56th minute when Duvan Zapata ran through, evading Harry Maguire before slotting in.
The goal was initially disallowed for offside before being given after a VAR review, but Ronaldo thwarted the hosts again with his ninth goal in 11 appearances since returning to Old Trafford and his record-extending 139th goal in the competition.
“We believed until the end. I helped my team get one point,” said Ronaldo. “We never give up, it’s a good result for us I think.”
“Ronaldo is one of the best that’s ever played this game. I’m sure this is the same feeling Chicago Bulls got with Michael Jordan,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, referring to the American star who won six NBA titles in two spells with the Bulls.
The 36-year-old also scored an injury-time winner when United came from behind to beat Villarreal 2-1 in September and headed in late on to complete a comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Atalanta 3-2 at home two weeks ago. United are level on seven points atop the group with Villarreal, who beat Swiss champions Young Boys 2-0 in Spain with Etienne Capoue scoring a first-half opener and then setting up Arnaut Danjuma to clinch the win late on.
Chelsea get better of Malmo
Captain Paulo Dybala’s brace helped Juventus to a 4-2 win over Zenit Saint Petersburg in Turin as they kept up their 100 percent record in Group H to secure a last-16 place.
Dybala’s early opener was canceled out when Leonardo Bonucci headed into his own net, but the Argentine international restored Juve’s lead just before the hour, netting a penalty which he had initially missed before being granted a retake.
Federico Chiesa and Alvaro Morata added further goals for Massimiliano Allegri’s team before Sardar Azmoun pulled one back in stoppage time.
Juve are three points clear of reigning European champions Chelsea, who beat Malmo 1-0 in Sweden with a second-half Hakim Ziyech goal.
Thomas Tuchel’s side need one more point to be certain of advancing.
Lewandowski hat trick
Robert Lewandowski netted a hat trick as Bayern steamrollered Benfica 5-2 in Germany to make it four wins from four in Group E, securing their progress and leaving them requiring a single point to clinch first place.
Lewandowski nodded in the opener and then set up Serge Gnabry for a cheeky back-heel to make it two.
Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring their team’s fifth goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Bayern Munich and SL Benfica at Allianz Arena on Tuesday in Munich, Germany. Photo: VCG
Morato headed Benfica back into the game and Lewandowski then had a penalty saved right on halftime after a Lucas Verissimo handball.
However, Leroy Sane made it 3-1 just after the restart and Lewandowski added two more delightful finishes either side of a consolation effort from visiting substitute Darwin Nunez.
It was an eventful night for Lewandowski on his 100th Champions League appearance. He has now scored 81 times in the competition – only Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more.
“I never thought I would have so many games with so many goals,” Lewandowski said.
Meanwhile managerless Barcelona boosted their qualification hopes, Ansu Fati’s goal in Ukraine securing a second straight 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev to lift them up to second above Benfica.
Red Bull Salzburg could have sealed progress from Group G but instead the Austrians went down 2-1 to Wolfsburg in Germany.
Ridle Baku and Lukas Nmecha scored for Wolfsburg either side of a Maximilian Woeber free kick.
Lille and Wolfsburg are now just two points behind group leaders Salzburg after the French side came from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla.
Lucas Ocampos gave Sevilla the lead but Jonathan David levelled with a penalty and Jonathan Ikone secured Lille’s first win in 11 Champions League games.
