Man Utd Champions League group permutations: Explaining how United could finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th

Manchester United could still finish their Champions League group in second, third or fourth place depending on how results pan out on Tuesday in the final round of games.

The Red Devils host Bayern Munich, who have already secured top spot in Group A, while it’s Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the other match, both of whom are in the same boat as United and can finish anywhere between second and fourth.

Second place, of course, secures a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds, third means Europa League football and fourth will result in elimination from Europe altogether.

Ahead of the final group matches, here are all the ifs buts and maybes you need to know…

How Group A looks

It’s currently Bayern top on 13 points, followed by Copenhagen on five, with Galatasaray on the same number of points in third. United bring up the rear and have gleaned four points from the five group matches

How Champions League groups are determined

After points, it’s head-to-head records that determine places in the group, followed by goal difference, goals scored and then goals scored in away matches.

Group A permutations

United win, Copenhagen/Galatasaray draw

This is the one scenario in which United progress to the next stages; any other set of results and the Red Devils are out. This outcome would leave United on seven points and Copenhagen and Galatasaray on six.

United win, Copenhagen or Galatasaray win

Whatever happens, if United lose they can’t finish bottom and will remain in Europe. But if there's a winner in Denmark, Ten Hag’s side also can’t finish in the top two. A United victory and a winner emerging between Copenhagen and Galatasaray would result in the Premier League side finishing third.

United draw, Copenhagen win

This is where it gets tricky and this sequence of events would result in United finishing level on points with Galatsaray, but the latter would have the advantage on head to head. So Galatasaray would finish third, United bottom, and Copenhagen would progress.

United draw, Galatasaray win

Similar to above, but this scenario would see United and Copenhagen end the group level on points and with one win apiece against each other in the group. It would, therefore, be settled on goal difference, then potentially overall goals scored and then overall away goals scored, which would see United finish third and Copenhagen would end up in the last place.

United lose

No matter what the result is Copenhagen, a Bayern win at Old Trafford and United are bottom and out of Europe.