Ronaldo serves as Man United’s saviour yet again to salvage late draw vs. Atalanta | CBC Sports

“It was a difficult game, I know when we play in Bergamo it is always difficult, but we believe until the end and I am so happy,” Ronaldo told BT Sport.

Ronaldo has now scored five goals in four Champions League matches since his return to United, including a late winner in the 2-1 victory over Villarreal in late September. He has netted nine in 11 matches since his transfer from Juventus and appears to be almost singlehandedly saving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position as manager.

“We all have our roles and responsibilities and of course Cristiano is a leader in the group. But that’s what he does, he scores goals,” Solskjaer said, before warning there is more to come from his star forward.

“Cristiano is getting better and better for us. He’s feeling better, he didn’t have a proper pre-season and now he’s getting better.”

Josip Ilicic had given Atalanta the lead in the 12th minute with an effort that David de Gea was unable to keep out and Duvan Zapata restored the home team’s lead early in the second half.

United remained atop Group F. It is level on points with Villarreal after the Spanish squad beat Young Boys 2-0 in the other group match. Atalanta is two points further back.

“Disappointment? On the scale of one to a hundred, it’s a thousand,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said. “We believed because even their drive seemed exhausted. We were controlling the match, there was hardly any time left. But against us there was an extraordinary player, with incredible ball skills.”

Atalanta’s injury crisis was showing signs of easing but it was still without Rafael Toloi — the captain — and fellow defenders Robin Gosens and Hans Hateboer.

Instead it was Atalanta that went in front in the 12th minute when Zapata crossed in from the left and Ilicic swept in a first-time shot which was straight at De Gea but nevertheless squirmed under the body of the Spanish goalkeeper.

United almost drew level immediately as Ronaldo tried to latch onto a through ball but Musso was quick off his line and managed to get to it just before the Portugal forward.

But Atalanta was the more dangerous side and Zapata had two great opportunities. First, he sprung the offside trap to beautifully control a long ball over the top and bear down on De Gea’s goal but fired over. Then, in the 32nd minute, only a fine block from Eric Bailly prevented Zapata from doubling his team’s lead after Paul Pogba was again guilty of surrendering possession in a dangerous position.

Matters grew worse for United as Raphael Varane had to go off with an injury, and the defender will likely be a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League match against Manchester City.

However, his replacement Mason Greenwood had a hand in the equalizer as he received the ball from Ronaldo before picking out Bruno Fernandes in the area and he back-heeled it smartly for his compatriot to fire into the far side of the net.

Zapata had been a thorn in United’s side all night and he restored his team’s lead in the 56th after springing the offside trap and dinking the ball over De Gea. There was a lengthy check by video review before the goal was awarded.

De Gea somewhat atoned for his error on Atalanta’s opener with a fine save late on to deny Zapata and that proved crucial as, shortly after, United levelled. It was the second minute of stoppage time when Greenwood flicked on the ball to Ronaldo, who volleyed into the bottom left corner.

Juventus, Bayern qualify for KO rounds

Paulo Dybala scored twice and Juventus beat Zenit St. Petersburg 4-2 on Tuesday to secure a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds with two matches to spare.

The victory was a measure of relief for a Juventus squad that has lost two straight in Serie A and is falling out of contention domestically.

Federico Chiesa and Alvaro Morata also scored for the Bianconeri.

Juventus has now won all four of its matches to lead Group H by three points ahead of defending champion Chelsea, which won 1-0 at Malmo earlier.

Meanwhile, German champion Bayern Munich booked its place in the Champions League last 16 as Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick for a 5-2 victory over Benfica to extend Bayern’s perfect record of four wins from four in the group stage. That took Lewandowski to 81 career goals in his 100th Champions League game.

The game marked the return of Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann after four games away — including the return 4-0 win over Benfica in Portugal — after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

Barcelona beat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 in the other game in the group.

Canada’s David scores, Lille edge Sevilla

Lille earned its first Champions League win of the season, coming from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Tuesday and staying in contention to advance to the knockout rounds from a tight Group G.

Lucas Ocampos put the hosts ahead early in the first half but Jonathan David equalized by converting a penalty kick before halftime.

Jonathan Ikone netted the winner for the French side early in the second half.

The away victory left Lille with five points after four matches, two points behind group leader Salzburg, which lost 2-1 at Wolfsburg earlier. Wolfsburg also has five points, while Sevilla stayed on three points with two games left.