Man Utd's new Champions League landmark thanks to Ronaldo winner vs Atalanta

Manchester United set a new Champions League landmark in their dramatic victory over Atalanta on Wednesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late header to give the Red Devils all three points and save manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from further scrutiny.

Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire had netted to level the scores after the Serie A side went into the break with a two-goal lead.

And the Portuguese superstar's winner meant United came from 2-0 down at half-time in the Champions League at Old Trafford for the first time in their history as Solskjaer's side moved to top of Group F.

In 2012, the Red Devils produced something similar coming from 2-0 down against Portuguese outfit Braga - but Javier Hernandez' s goal reduced the deficit before the interval during that group-stage clash.

And famously in a 1999 semi-final on the way to the treble, goals from Roy Keane and Dwight Yorke got United back on level terms heading into half-time after Filippo Inzaghi 's early brace for Juventus.

Ronaldo's late winner made it Man Utd's first victory from 2-0 down at half-time in the Champions League ( Image:

Getty Images)

It was a similar start for another Italian team on Wednesday, when Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral's strikes at the Stratford End gave Gian Piero Gasperini 's men the lead before the half-hour mark.

But the Red Devils regrouped at half-time and took their chances in the second period.

Bruno Fernandes ' spectacular pass found Rashford before the No.18 turned provided again for Maguire to dispatch his criss.

That goal came either side of two vital interventions from goalkeeper David De Gea as substitute duo Duvan Zapata and Ruslan Malinovskyi both tried their luck.

Ronaldo then rose in trademark fashion to head home after a whipped Luke Shaw ball.

It means the Red Devils now sit at the summit of their group, with the reverse fixture against Atalanta up next in continental competition on Tuesday, November 2.

As much as Solskjaer praised his players, the United boss acknowledged their supporters' impact on the match.

"It's just belief, that's what it comes down to, with the crowd and they sensed it in the second half with how the players came out," he told BT Sport.

Will the win spark a turnaround for Man Utd? Give us your verdict here.

"I said it before the game, if we go out there and give everything for the team, we will have the crowd behind our backs.

"They always do here. They always turn up, the singing end and the Red Army were unbelievable."

On Sunday, Solskjaer will be hoping for similar backing from the Red Devils' home fans when Liverpool come to town.

Jurgen Klopp's men are yet to win a Premier League game with a crowd inside Old Trafford since the German took charge in 2015, while victory for United would see them go within a point of the men from Merseyside.