Chapter 824 – The Unbeatable Side
After Bruno opened the scoring to break the deadlock, Gian Piero Gasperini was fuming.
He wanted to trade punches with United and level quickly, but reason prevailed.
Atalanta tightened up, committing to defense. For the rest of the half, United struggled to carve clear chances.
Bruno drew heavy attention and saw fewer openings.
United led 1–0 at the break.
After the restart, United stuck to the plan: probe steadily down Atalanta's left, especially at Djimsiti.
In the 49th minute, Bruno isolated Tolói on the right, powered into the area, drew both Tolói and Djimsiti — then slipped it back to the underlapping Diogo Dalot.
The Portuguese full-back burst through the right channel and rifled home.
2–0.
That goal effectively sealed it.
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At that point, the attack-minded Gasperini could sit no longer.
If they stayed in a shell, the score might hold — but any chance to win would vanish.
Atalanta needed results against Ajax for second place, but points against United could tip the balance — especially after being held at home by Ajax last round.
So they went for it.
Players welcomed the order — they had no appetite for a home rearguard.
The match opened up, transitions flying.
Even at 2–0, Bruno roamed relentlessly, hungry for more.
Six minutes after the second, he burst into the box onto Harry Kane's pass. Facing Djimsiti, the center-back had no choice but to clip him.
Whistle, penalty, second yellow — Djimsiti off.
Bruno converted coolly.
3–0.
It was Bruno's 80th goal in Champions League proper.
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The blow shattered Atalanta — down a man and three goals, the fight drained away.
In the 55th minute, United struck a fourth.
Greenwood split the left channel; Bruno rounded Marco Sportiello and rolled into an empty net — a hat-trick.
Minutes later, Bruno made way for Jesse Lingard.
Six minutes after Bruno's exit, Greenwood added a fifth — Mahrez's through ball sent him clean through to dink past the keeper.
5–0 — the final score.
Atalanta's heavy defeat came from early concessions and a blood-and-thunder response that left them exposed to United's counters.
Bruno's casual, almost calligraphic hat-trick was wuxia made flesh — pure Wudang tai chi, four ounces to move a thousand.
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Back-to-back 5–0 wins in the Champions League put United firmly atop the group. Ajax and Atalanta both sat on one win, one draw, and one loss, with Ajax second on goal difference and Atalanta third.
After only three rounds, United's advantage was pronounced.
Beat Atalanta at home next, and United would clinch knockout qualification with two matches to spare.
If Ajax slipped at home to Midtjylland, United could even lock top spot early — unlikely, but possible.
Ten Hag's Ajax had been raided repeatedly in recent summers, their 2019 semifinal core largely gone, yet their academy kept them strong — far beyond Midtjylland's level, if still shy of United's.
United's streaks rolled on: 30 straight Champions League wins, 40 unbeaten.
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Back in England, United headed to Goodison Park for Matchday 8 against Everton.
Mourinho reinstated the Arsenal starters.
Carlo Ancelotti's side had flown early with four straight wins to lead the league, then stumbled: 2–2 at home to Liverpool, 0–2 at Southampton, 1–2 at Newcastle.
After seven matches, they were at risk of slipping out of the European places.
They couldn't afford another loss.
Prepared and hungry, Everton made it a scrap early.
In the 19th minute, Jordan Pickford's long kick sparked chaos: Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked on, Bernard skipped past Dalot at the edge of the box and drilled low inside the left post.
1–0 Everton.
Three touches, three players, back to front — and Bernard justified his first start of the league season.
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But Ancelotti's joy was brief.
In the 25th, Luke Shaw — back from injury — crossed from the left and captain Bruno Fernandes thundered a header home.
1–1.
In the 32nd, Bruno clipped a deft ball from the left edge; Rashford's near-post run distracted Pickford, the bounce kissed the post and in.
2–1 United.
In stoppage time, Everton threw numbers forward. United broke: Bruno fed substitute Scott McTominay, who finished calmly.
3–1 — a comeback win. From the Round 2 Crystal Palace setback, United had reeled off six straight league wins and twelve in all competitions.
With Liverpool drawing 1–1 at Stamford Bridge, United's lead grew to three points.
Second place now? Leicester City — the Foxes continued last season's form with a 6–2 league start and three straight Europa League wins, a step from the knockouts.
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The third international window arrived; Bruno rejoined Portugal.
Two Nations League matches remained: home to France, away to Croatia — the final group fixtures.
Portugal led with four straight wins; France trailed at 3–1. A French win in Lisbon could flip the group.
Only the four League A group winners reach the semifinals, so Portugal needed top spot.
But France edged it — N'Golo Kanté's late goal broke the deadlock, ending France's four-match losing streak to Portugal since 2014.
It was Portugal's first Nations League defeat, though they stayed top on goal difference.
Three days later, the group finale kicked off.
In the first half, Rúben Semedo's poor clearance allowed Mateo Kovačić to score at the second attempt; Josip Juranović headed wide.
After the break, Marko Rog's stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo earned a second yellow. Ronaldo's free kick forced a spill and Bruno equalized on the rebound.
Diogo Jota escaped a handball and squared for João Félix to put Portugal ahead, only for Kovačić to rocket in a second to level it again.
At the death, Dominik Livaković fumbled a cross off Dejan Lovren's back, and Rúben Dias spun to fire into an empty net.
Portugal topped the group on goal difference over France; Sweden dropped to League B.
(END CHAPTER)
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