Manchester United vs Atalanta LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow live updates from Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo and co. look to bounce back from defeat at Leicester last weekend

(Getty Images)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will doubtless Manchester United’s comeback down to the spirit and soul of the club, and it is true to say that this 3-2 win over Atalanta again showed that this team are at the very least playing for their manager. Cristiano Ronaldo offered yet another late match-winning moment, on another raucous European night.

It was just that this victory was as much down to the willingness of a depleted Atalanta side to persevere with their approach to the point that risk became recklessness. Gian Piero Gasperini’s one-on-one approach gave United countless opportunities, that they were eventually going to take up.

Another truth is that, as bad as this game was at half-time, United probably should have won about 8-2 rather than 3-2 by virtue of the chances created. They missed so many.

Or perhaps that should be 8-3, since David De Gea made yet another crucial and brilliant save from Duvan Zapata with the score at 2-2.

It felt so significant in the very moment of the stop, especially since it had such echoes of what happened against Villarreal - right down to what eventually happened. But that is why, even allowing for the fact United are now top of the group and surely en route for the last 16, it feels wrong to talk about this as any kind of turning point.

Manchester United vs Atalanta

• 8pm kick-off
• Man Utd XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo
• Atalanta XI: Musso; Zappacosta, Palomino, Demiral, Maehle; Freuler, De Roon, Pasalic; Ilicic, Koopmeiners; Muriel
• Pasalic puts Serie A side ahead from close range
• Demiral heads home second before the half-hour mark
• Rashford pulls one back for United early in second half
• Maguire volleys in equaliser with 15’ to play
• Cristiano Ronaldo thumps in header minutes later

[20 October 2021 22:26 · Michael Jones]

More from Maguire

Harry Maguire broke down where things went wrong for United in the first half and why his teammates still had belief they could win the game despite being two goals down. He said:

The first half we conceded two bad goals. Two big moments in the game. For the first they caught us out and then the second it is a set-play that we shouldn’t be conceding. We created a lot of chances in the first half so we knew at half-time that the next goal would be crucial. We got the goals we needed and deserved and I think we deserved the win in the end. Yes, we made it difficult but it is a tremendous victory in the end.

“We were two goals down and we need to sharpen up with that. But we had plenty of chances. I think Marcus [Rashford] had two one-on-ones in the first-half. We are working hard to be more solid but it is about winning and the last three or four games we have conceded too many set-pieces. It is fine margins but we need to do better. We showed great togetherness. We were clapped off at half-time by some of these fans and they gave us the belief we needed.”

[20 October 2021 22:24 · Michael Jones]

Cristiano Ronaldo completes Manchester United’s comeback win over Atalanta on wild Champions League night

It was the sort of script that is loved at this club, but it’s impossible to escape the feeling this one was used to paper over cracks that are by now huge gaps.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will doubtless put this down to the spirit and soul of the club, and it is true to say that this 3-2 win over Atalanta again showed that this team are at the very least playing for their manager. Cristiano Ronaldo offered yet another late match-winning moment, on another raucous European night.

[20 October 2021 22:21 · Michael Jones]

Manchester United vs Atalanta: Five things we learned as Marcus Rashford stars in thrilling comeback

Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Atalanta 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Here are five things we learned from the match at Old Trafford.

[20 October 2021 22:19 · Michael Jones]

Maguire on scoring his first Champions League goal

Harry Maguire netted a first goal in the Champions League for Manchester United to give his team the equaliser and set up a dramatic finish at Old Trafford. Understandably, he was pleased about it saying:

It’s my first goal of the season and my first in the Champions League, so it was a proud moment for me and my family who were up there watching.”

[20 October 2021 22:15 · Michael Jones]

Reaction from Harry Maguire

A delighted Harry Maguire spoke to BT Sport after the match and said:

We actually created a lot of chances in the first half so we knew coming in at half-time that the next goal would be crucial and we got the goal that we needed. I think in the end we deserved the victory.”

[20 October 2021 22:13 · Michael Jones]

Last-gasp Cristiano Ronaldo header completes stunning Manchester United comeback

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comeback kings did it again as Cristiano Ronaldo secured Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory in a breathless Champions League clash with Atalanta

There was intense scrutiny on the 1999 treble hero and his players heading into the Group F encounter after Saturday’s embarrassing loss at Leicester compounded recent poor performances.

United were staring down the barrel of a fifth loss in eight matches and were booed by some fans as they trudged off at half-time trailing by two goals, only for Solskjaer’s side to storm back memorably at Old Trafford.

[20 October 2021 22:11 · Michael Jones]

Ronaldo rescues Man Utd again

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in three consecutive Champions League games for Manchester United for the second time, previously doing so in November 2007 en route to winning the trophy with the Red Devils.

A sign of things to come perhaps?

(AFP via Getty Images)

[20 October 2021 22:06 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 3 - 2 Atalanta

Manchester United have won a Champions League game from two or more goals down for the third time. No side has done so more often in the competition with Arsenal also doing so three times.

(Manchester United via Getty Imag)

[20 October 2021 22:02 · Michael Jones]

Manchester United complete comeback win over Atalanta

Marcus Rashford got the ball rolling, Harry Maguire equalised and Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the winning goal.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Manchester United via Getty Imag)

(Manchester United via Getty Imag)

[20 October 2021 21:56 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 3 - 2 Atalanta

Two goals down at half-time and bottom of Group F. Manchester United responded beautifully, they took the game to Atalanta in the second half, scored three goals and claimed all three points, ending the night top of the group.