What Man Utd need to reach Champions League knockout stage after Copenhagen defeat

Manchester United are in a tricky situation as they look to progress in the Champions League. Erik ten Hag's men were dealt a major setback on Wednesday night when they lost 4-3 to Copenhagen despite leading twice. Pressure on Erik ten Hag ramped up after a Marcus Rashford red card led to United blowing a two-goal lead.

They later re-established their lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty, but the Danes scored twice in three minutes late on to secure all three points and leapfrog their visitors in the group table.

United's path to the Round of 16 now looks complicated with two games to go. Bayern Munich can no longer be caught, already winning the group, leaving just one place. With that in mind, here we run you through how the Red Devils can still progress.

What United need to do

If United win their final two games, against Galatasaray away and Bayern Munich at home, they should progress. The only reason they would fail to go through in that situation is if Copenhagen defeat both Galatasaray and Bayern Munich in their remaining games.

Should the Red Devils beat Galatasaray and draw with Bayern Munich, they would require Copenhagen to lose against Bayern Munich and to draw with Galatasaray on the final day. In that circumstance, if Galatasaray went on to beat Copenhagen in the final game, it would come down to head-to-head record.

If United draw with Galatasaray and beat Bayern Munich, a similar scenario would need to play out, but due to head-to-head record, no other result other than a draw between Galatasaray and Copenhagen would suffice. That's because four points would take United on to seven points, a total Copenhagen and Galatasaray can reach - both with better head-to-head records than United - with just one win.

In the case United lose to Galatasaray, their Champions League campaign will be over with a game to spare. If they beat Galatasaray and lose to Bayern Munich, again, they would need Copenhagen to lose to Bayern and for the Danes to draw with Galatasaray in the final game. That would leave both Copenhagen and Galatasaray on five points, with United on six. Three points is the minimum Ten Hag's men can pick up with a chance of progressing.