Ronaldo late winner in Man United's victory

Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winning goal capped a classic Manchester United comeback win in the Champions League on Wednesday.

In a less chaotic manner, Bayern Munich and Juventus also recorded typical trademark wins to top their groups with three straight victories and no goals conceded.

Trailing 2-0 at halftime at home against Atalanta, with Paul Pogba left on the bench, United’s wild season under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared ready to derail with last place in the group beckoning.

Ronaldo put the club back on top, 3-2, in the 81st minute after goals from Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire to deliver a second straight come-from-behind win at Old Trafford in the competition.

SICK LEAVE

Bayern returned to the Stadium of Light in Lisbon without the new coach who replaced 2020 title-winner Hansi Flick.

Julian Nagelsmann was ill and stayed at the hotel while his team had two goals disallowed before striking four times, including two by Leroy Sané, from the 70th minute. Bayern routed Benfica 4-0 with late goals including one from Robert Lewandowski after standout saves by Manuel Neuer in the Lisbon stadium where they won the 2020 title 14 months ago.

“The boys were sensational,” Bayern assistant coach Dino Toppmöller said. They now lead Benfica by five points, with Barcelona a further point back.

PEAK PIQUE

The 34-year-old Gerard Piqué scored his 16th Champions League goal — tying the record for a defender — to ensure Barcelona beat Dynamo Kyiv.

The win ended Barcelona’s five-game winless Champions League run and a club record streak of three straight home losses in the competition.

Next up at Camp Nou is a “clásico” against Real Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.

Neither Ukrainian team — Dynamo and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group D — has scored in a combined six games so far.

Defending champion Chelsea also cruised to a 4-0 win, against Malmö, but lost strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injuries.

Salzburg was the other group leader in action, beating Wolfsburg 3-1 with goals from the kind of young forwards the Austrian champion excels in nurturing then trading on.