Elsewhere, champions Chelsea thumped Juventus 4-0 to secure their passage to the knockout phase but Barcelona are in danger of going out in the group stage after being held to a goalless home draw by Benfica.

At Villarreal, Ronaldo calmly lobbed Geronimo Rulli in the 78th minute after midfielder Fred won the ball from the keeper's risky pass to Etienne Capoue from a goal kick.

It was a rare moment in attack for the visitors, who were playing under interim manager Michael Carrick for the first time after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's weekend sacking.

Jadon Sancho smashed in his first United goal via a last-minute counter-attack to ensure Carrick a winning start and the club top spot in Group F on 10 points.

"In some ways, it was the best way to win for me," Carrick told BT Sport.

"We had to show some character, we had to dig in, had to fight."

Villarreal have seven points while Atalanta, who drew 3-3 at Young Boys, are on six before they host the Spanish side in a fortnight to decide who joins United to progress from the group.

Chelsea avenged their earlier defeat in Turin by hammering Juventus in London courtesy of goal from academy products Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi before Timo Werner completed the rout.

Thomas Tuchel's Blues lead Group H on goal difference from Juve but both are safely through while Zenit St Petersburg clinched third thanks to an injury-time penalty rescuing a 1-1 draw at 10-man Malmo.

A depleted Bayern Munich made it five wins from five in Group E thanks to Robert Lewandowski's brilliant overhead kick and a goal from Kingsley Coman in a 2-1 win in the snow away to Dynamo Kiev.

Denys Garmash grabbed a consolation for eliminated Kiev, who could not find a late equaliser against a Bayern side weakened by injuries and the coronavirus quarantine of Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Cuisance - in addition to Niklas Sule and Josip Stanisic being infected.

Barca, who were led by new coach Xavi for the first time in the Champions League, now likely need a win at Bayern next time out to advance as Benfica, two points behind the Catalan giants but holding the head-to-head edge, host struggling Dynamo Kiev on matchday six.

Lille beat Salzburg 1-0 to go top of Group E while Sevilla defeated Wolfsburg 2-0 to set up a thrilling final round of matches.

Wolfsburg are last on five points but host Lille (eight) while Salzburg (seven) welcome Sevilla (six) with all four sides still in with a chance of advancing.

Australian Associated Press