What Manchester United need to do to qualify for UCL knockout stages?

Erik ten Hag faces another difficult challenge this season after defeat against Copenhagen

Manchester United started their Champions League 2023-24 campaign against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena on matchday one. Bayern scored two quick goals within 30 minutes of the match, before Hojlund scored his first Champions League goal to make the scoreline 2-1.

Barely five minutes after his goal, a penalty was awarded and Harry Kane scored the spot kick to make it 3-1, two minutes before added time Casemiro made it 3-2 to make it more exciting but Bayern’s counter attack was converted by Mathys Tel to make it 4-2. Casemiro scored another goal to complete his brace and the match ended 4-3.

In matchday two, Manchester United hosted Galatasaray at Old Trafford with hopes of winning the match. The Red Devils started the match on good note with Hojlund scoring his first goal at Old Trafford, Zaha, former United man, made it 1-1 before the quarter of the match completed and ended the first half with the same scoreline.

United started the second half with some good plays in the attacking half, Hojlund made it 2-1 in the 67th minute but keeping leads this season for united has always been tough and they could barely hold that lead for 4 minutes and the away team made it 2-2.

Trouble got worse for United as Casemiro was handed over a red card in the 77th minute, Galatasaray capitalized the situation and Icardi’s penalty in the 81st minute handed back-to-back loss for United in the Champions League.

Erik ten Hag’s team came into Matchday three with some tough wins in the Premier League, they hosted Danish side Copenhagen at home. Like every match United struggled to score despite creating chances, Harry Maguire’s header gave them a 1-0 lead just before the 80th minute.

A 1-0 lead is never safe in a football match, this match proved the same as the Danish club was given a penalty in the last minute of extra time before Onana’s heroics saved the match for the English club and gave them their first win in the competition.

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Manchester United faced FC Copenhagen in matchday four of the Champions League group stages and Erik ten Hag’s side had to win to keep their progressing chances alive. They had to win this match to keep their qualification hopes alive and started the match on a very bright note.

⏹️ 10-man United are defeated in Denmark.#MUFC || #UCL

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 8, 2023

A first-half brace from Hojlund and Rashford’s controversial red card ended the first half with 2-1 Manchester United lead. Second half was a tough situation for the club as they were one man down, Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot to make it 3-2 before two quick goals withing four minutes from the Danish club handed a 4-3 defeat to United.

Qualification scenario

Before losing in matchday four, United needed to win both their matches against Copenhagen and Galatasaray to make it to the second position with 9 points but the club now sits at the fourth position with just 3 points, 1 point less from both the Turkish and Danish clubs.

Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Galatasaray and paved the way for United to progress but as things stand United are not even in contention for a Europa League place this season. For a knockout stage spot, they cannot afford to lose any of their remaining matches against Galatasaray and Bayern.

Bayern have already qualified with 12 points, the second place now depends on the remaining fixtures. United can just focus on their last two fixtures and hope the other two teams bottle it up and in n o way they can afford to lose either of the remaining fixture. Should United end level on points in a fight for second, the position in the group will be determined based on the head-to-head record.

History of Manchester United in UCL

The UEFA Champions League, as we know it today, was established in the 1992-93 season. Manchester United entered this new era with a reinvigorated squad, and in 1999, they achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in the same season. The iconic 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the final, with late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, remains etched in football history.

Under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United enjoyed a period of sustained success in the Champions League. They reached the final three times in four years between 2008 and 2011. In 2008, they defeated Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shootout to clinch their third European title. Manchester United remain the first-ever English club to win the treble.

Whether through the Busby Babes, the Ferguson era, or the current resurgence, the Red Devils remain a force to be reckoned with in one of the world’s most prestigious football competitions.

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