Juventus 1-2 Manchester United: Jose Mourinho's side earn memorable win

Report as United take qualification hopes into their own hands after Cristiano Ronaldo had scored against former side

By Gerard Brand

Image: Manchester United celebrate the late winner in Turin

Two late goals gave Manchester United a memorable 2-1 comeback victory over Juventus in the Champions League group stage.

Former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal for Juventus to put the hosts in front, hitting a superbly-timed volley past David de Gea (65) from inside the box following Leonardo Bonucci's ball.

But Juan Mata equalised for United with four minutes remaining with a fine dipping free-kick from 20 yards, before former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba helped bundle the ball over the line via Alex Sandro for an own goal in the 90th minute.

Image: Juan Mata celebrates his free-kick equaliser with Nemanja Matic

Player ratings

Juventus: Szczesny (6), De Sciglio (6), Chiellini (6), Sandro (7), Bonucci (6), Pjanic (6), Khedira (6), Dybala (6), Cuadrado (6), Bentancur (6), Ronaldo (7)

Subs: Matuidi (5), Barzagli (NA), Mandzukic (NA)

Manchester United: De Gea (6), Young (6), Smalling (7), Lindelof (7), Shaw (6), Matic (6), Herrera (6), Pogba (5), Lingard (5), Sanchez (6), Martial (6)

Subs: Rashford (6), Mata (7), Fellaini (7)

Man of the match: Victor Lindelof

The result means United's knockout qualification hopes are in their own hands, sitting second in Group H with seven points, two behind leaders Juventus and two above Valencia.

United looked solid for the first half an hour as neither side created a clear-cut chance, but the first opportunity fell to Juventus as Juan Cuadrado's cross from the right of the box deflected off Nemanja Matic, forcing De Gea into a sharp save.

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A minute later, Ronaldo's fine cut back from the right fell to Sami Khedira, but he hooked his right-footed effort from 12 yards against the outside of the post with De Gea stranded.

Team news

United made two changes from their win at Bournemouth on Saturday as Herrera and Lingard came in for Fred and Mata. Lukaku was not in the squad due to injury.

Juventus made four changes from their weekend win over Cagliari; Khedira was back after injury and Cuadrado, Chiellini and Sandro also started, replacing Benatia, Cancelo, Costa and Matuidi.

After the break, Anthony Martial struck just wide with a curling effort from 20 yards, while at the other end Juventus hit the woodwork again through Paulo Dybala's shot just inside the box in space.

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He had been quiet up to this point, but Ronaldo became centre of attention on 65 minutes, collecting a deep Bonucci ball over his shoulder and volleying brilliantly past De Gea from 12 yards.

Ronaldo, who spent six years at Old Trafford, did not hold back in his celebrations, but did wave in respect to the United fans after scoring.

Image: Luke Shaw battles for the ball with Juan Cuadrado in the first half

Dybala nearly added a second, denied by De Gea's outstretched hand, and Cuadrado fluffed his chance to wrap up the game from 12 yards, blazing over after Ronaldo's unselfish centre.

However, out of nowhere, United fought back for the three points, equalising as Mata hit a fine free-kick over the wall after Wojciech Szczesny had taken a step to the opposite side.

They got their winner in the 90th minute from Ashley Young's wicked free-kick cross, causing mayhem at the far post as Pogba's touch came off Sandro and over the line.

Jose Mourinho celebrated at full time by cupping his ears to the Juventus crowd, which upset some of the home players, before being ushered off the pitch.

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener for Juventus

Permutations

  • Following United's win in Turin, paired with Valencia's victory at home to Young Boys on Matchday Four, Group H was blown wide open.
  • If United beat Young Boys on MD5, and Valencia lose or even draw at Juventus, United will be through to the knockout stages.
  • If United draw or lose against Young Boys and Valencia lose or draw, they will still just need a point at the Mestalla on MD6.
  • United can finish top of the group, sitting two points behind leaders Juventus. If United win their last two games and Juventus drop points in either of their last two games, United reach the knockout stages as winners and will have a favourable seeded draw.
Jose Mourinho insists his ear-cupping gesture at Juventus was not offensive, saying he just wanted to see how the Italian fans would react

Opta stats

  • Juventus have lost a UEFA Champions League group stage home game for the first time since December 2009 (versus Bayern Munich), ending a 19-game unbeaten run (W11 D8).
  • Manchester United have won more away Champions League matches at Juventus than any other side have in the history of the competition (3).
  • Manchester United have come back to win a UEFA Champions League game with two goals in the final five minutes of a match for the first time since the 1999 final vs Bayern Munich.
  • Manchester United's Juan Mata has scored his first Champions League goal since netting against VfL Wolfsburg in September 2015, ending a run of 11 appearances in the competition without a goal.
  • Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo ended a drought of 20 shots and 453 minutes without a goal in the UEFA Champions League, with his opening goal against Manchester United in this match.

Man of the match - Victor Lindelof

Alongside Chris Smalling, Lindelof put in a fine showing to keep Juventus at bay for the majority of the game making a team-high eight clearances and losing the ball only four times, less than any of the starting XI.

What's next?

United now go to rivals Manchester City on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4.30pm, and face Young Boys at Old Trafford next up in the Champions League on November 27. Juventus host Valencia on the same night.

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