Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick gives Manchester United victory against Tottenham: 3-2

After two weeks of doubts, attacks, uncertainty about his professionalism and involvement, Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest scorer of all time, appeared to score a hat trickundress Tottenham Hotspur (3-2) and frighten Atlético de Madrid, whom he expects on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The Portuguese scored his second treble in a Manchester United shirt, the first since January 12, 2008 against Newcastle, number 59 in his career totalto wipe out Harry Kane’s penalty goal and Harry Maguire’s own goal and give United back the hope of being in the Champions League next season.

All after a previous one marked by the illness of Bruno Fernandes, who was left out of the match, and the doubts of David De Gea, who gave a false positive. As soon as he rolled the ball, the one who marked everything was Cristiano.

The Portuguese returned after missing the Manchester derby and the doubts surrounding his absence and his flight to Portugal. And he came back a few years younger, as if it were the Cristiano of 2009 who won the Puskas award with a great goal against Porto. Because when he outlined himself, after a great pass from Fred, and faced the goal with 30 meters ahead, it seemed that the Cristiano of a few years ago was back.

He kicked with his right hand and there was nothing able to stop that missile. A goal from another era for the Portuguese, who sharpens knives with the Champions League round of 16 just around the corner and the play-off with Portugal on the horizon.

But United are anything but reliable and as soon as Tottenham pushed a little it didn’t take long for the tie to arrive. Kulusevski left Sancho lying on the white line and took a cross that hit Telles squarely on the arm.

Penalty for a Kane who has scored the last 19 he has shot with Tottenham. He guessed De Gea’s trajectory, but the power of the ball made him unstoppable.

The tie lasted two minutes for the Spurs, because Reguilón was stuck in a pass from behind, Sancho accelerated, stood in the area and put a pass at will for Cristiano to shoot Lloris.

While Kane, with his goal, equaled Frank Lampard with 177 goals as the fifth top scorer in the Premier, Cristiano added his 806th goal and surpassed Josef Bican as the top scorer in historyaccording to FIFA.

The duel between the two scorers aimed to intensify in the second half, but the one who appeared by surprise (or not) was Harry Maguire, to put a center by Reguilón in his own goal and tie.

It smelled like another mess at Old Trafford. Another setback that would complicate the Champions League. But the usual appeared. Corner in favor of United, mistake by Romero, who left Cristiano alone and the Portuguese headed into the net. hat trick, three points and notice to Atlético. In three days, CR7 will receive the second favorite victim of his career, with knives ready.

United return to fourth place, with two points more than Arsenal, but with four more games, while Tottenham remains seventh, with 45 points, five behind the Champions League.

Manchester United vs. Tottenham – Minute by minute

(D)