Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Man Utd record and matches Ruud van Nistelrooy in Atalanta draw
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal on Man Utd return in pictures
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Cristiano Ronaldo has broken another record after scoring twice for Manchester United against Atalanta on Tuesday night. The Portugal international earned a vital point for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. And he’s also ensured his team are still on track to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
United were far from their best against Atalanta.
But Ronaldo came to their rescue to earn a draw, netting two equalisers after previous strikes from Josip Ilicic and Duvan Zapata.
It was a massive night for United who, had they lost, would have been facing elimination from the Champions League in the group stages for a second year in a row.
And Ronaldo, by scoring twice, has now written his name into the history books once again.
Sky Sports claim that the 36-year-old has now become the oldest player in United’s history to bag two goals in a single Champions League clash.
And he’s now matched Ruud van Nistelrooy by being the first star to notch in four consecutive games in the competition.
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Ronaldo has five goals for United from four Champions League matches this term.
And Alex Telles, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford are the only other players to score for United in the competition so far.
Solskjaer was full of praise for Ronaldo after the game, comparing him to Michael Jordan following his heroics.
“Cristiano is just incredible,” said Solskjaer, whose team have now amassed seven points from their first four matches in the competition.
“We all have our roles and responsibilities and Cristiano is a leader in the group, he scores goals.
“If there’s anyone you want a chance to fall to – and a difficult chance – it’s him. It’s just incredible.
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“We’re not happy conceding two goals. But I’m sure the Chicago Bulls didn’t mind having Michael Jordan either.
“Sometimes the teams have the players they have and that’s why they are at Manchester United or Chicago Bulls, and you come up with those moments.
“Cristiano is getting better and better for us, he’s feeling better and up to speed now.”
When Ronaldo signed for United on deadline day, Sky Sports’ Paul Merson expressed doubts over his return.
But Merson has now backed down, admitting the 36-year-old is special following his Atalanta brace.
“It’s got to be one of the best finishes of all-time; it’s just out of absolutely nothing,” said the former Arsenal star.
“He didn’t touch the ball in the second half. Not through his fault, he just didn’t get the service.
“But it comes to him and there’s no snatching at it, he hits through the ball perfectly.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal and his first goal was brilliant as well.
“I was one of the big critics. I was one who wasn’t sure about him coming back. But if you give him chances, he will score goals. Thirty-six or 46, it doesn’t make any difference, he will finish.
“If you took away his two goals tonight, he’s a two out of 10. But his two goals are phenomenal and I’m lost for words.”
Merson does feel, though, that the result is ‘covering over the cracks’.
“It’s another Polyfilla one, it’s just covering over the cracks, but it’s a result,” added Merson.
“They’ve got a draw and they’re going to qualify.
“If they had lost, and they had gone and got beat by Villarreal, they were virtually out of the competition. Now you would expect them to qualify.
“As long as you’ve got Ronaldo on the pitch, you’ve got a chance.
“They hadn’t looked like scoring in a month of Sundays and then he goes and does what he’s done.”
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