The Results Manchester United Need Tonight To Continue Playing European Football

There's no need to beat around the bush - Manchester United's Champions League campaign has been a disaster at almost every turn this season.

Bar a dramatic - and nervy - late victory over Copenhagen at Old Trafford, they have failed to win any of their opening five games, and now need an almost miraculous set of circumstances to turn in their favour if they are to progress to the last 16.

Given the recent up-and-down form of the team, and seemingly dejected mindset of so many of the players in the squad, it is hard to see that coming through - but there is still a slim chance that the team could reach the knockout stages.

We've broken down exactly what Manchester United need to happen on the final matchday if they are to reach the Champions League last 16.

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Manchester United: The permutations for Champions League progression

Champions League matchday six: How the table stands

Going into the final round of games in group A, Bayern Munich are assured of winning the group, having won four of their first five games. Copenhagen and Galatasaray are tied on five points each, with United in last place with four points.

Champions League group A fixtures

Tuesday December 12: Manchester United v Bayern Munich, Copenhagen v Galatasaray (both 8pm Irish time)

How Manchester United can reach the Champions League last 16

It's an extremely outside chance, but Manchester United could reach the last 16, provided: United beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and Copenhagen v Galatasaray ends in a draw. Every other scenario will either see United eliminated from European football altogether, or dropped from the Champions League to the Europa League.

We've broken down all of the possible scenarios below:

• If Manchester United win and Copenhagen draw with Galatasaray: Manchester United will reach the Champions League last 16 as group runners-up
• If Manchester United win and Copenhagen beat Galatasaray: Copenhagen progress as runners-up, and United drop into the Europa League
• If Manchester United win and Galatasaray beat Copenhagen: Galatasaray progress as runners-up, and United drop into the Europa League
• If Manchester United draw and Copenhagen draw with Galatasaray: United finish bottom of the group and are eliminated from European football
• If Manchester United draw and Copenhagen beat Galatasaray: Copenhagen progress as runners-up. United finish tied on points with Galatasaray and are eliminated on head-to-head, having lost to Galatasaray at Old Trafford
• If Manchester United draw and Galatasaray beat Copenhagen: Galatasaray progress as runners-up. United finish tied on points with Copenhagen and they would be split by goal difference, almost guaranteeing United to finish ahead in third. Copenhagen would, at best, tie with United on goal difference if they were to lose - and with the Reds having scored 12 goals thus far to Copenhagen's seven, they are in pole position to finish ahead on goals scored and reach the Europa League.
• If Manchester United lose: The result in Copenhagen is irrelevant. United will finish bottom of the group and be eliminated from European football

Of course, the vast majority of the above scenarios assume that United will be able to get a result against Bayern Munich - an unlikely outcome, given the respective forms of the two teams.

Manchester United team news

Manchester United continue to be without Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, who were pillars of the team last season but have spent much of this campaign on the sidelines. Tyrrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, and Mason Mount are all also missing.

United manager Erik Ten Hag confirmed that he had doubts over the fitness of Victor Lindelof, while Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are both suffering from illness and missed training earlier this week.

Bayern Munich have brought a full-strength squad to Manchester, with manager Thomas Tuchel promising to play star striker Harry Kane despite the game having no effect on Bayern's position in the competition.

Bayern lost 5-1 at the weekend to Eintracht Frankfurt, so perhaps Manchester United are catching them at the right time.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 8pm on Tuesday evening.

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