Manchester United permutations: How they can qualify for Champions League last-16 knockout stage tonight

Erik ten Hag's side face Bayern Munich in a make-or-break situation
Marc Mayo12 December 2023

It promises to be a nervy night at Old Trafford as Manchester United face Bayern Munich in their final Champions League group game.

With Bayern already guaranteed to top Group A, United are left to scrap over the last qualification place for the last-16 with Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

It is the Danes currently in possession of second place, by virtue of goal difference ahead of Galatasaray.

Both of those teams sit on five points ahead of the Red Devils, who are on four ahead of tonight's matches.

Should teams finish level, their head-to-head record will determine who places higher before goal difference and goals scored.

Manchester United permutations

If Man Utd win: This is the only way they can qualify for the last-16. However, it requires Copenhagen and Galatasaray to draw their game in Denmark.

Should either Galatasaray or Copenhagen win too, United will finish third and be sent into the Europa League.

If Man Utd draw: This will not be enough to qualify for the last-16. If Galatasaray and Copenhagen also draw, United will finish bottom of the group.

A Galatasaray victory in this circumstance will be enough for United to finish third, as they are level in the head-to-head tiebreaker with Copenhagen and would overtake them based on either goal difference or goals scored.

However, a Copenhagen victory would leave United bottom as Galatasaray have a superior head-to-head record against them.

If Man Utd lose: This will leave United bottom of the group and out of Europe regardless of what happens in Denmark.

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