Man United are STILL alive in the Champions League as Copenhagen fail to beat Harry Kane and Co in Munich… but Danes pick up vital point thanks to late VAR intervention as group goes down to wire
- Qualification for the last-16 will be sorted during the final round of matches
- Manchester United now know exactly what they need to do in order to progress
- Was Garnacho’s overhead kick REALLY the greatest ever? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Manchester United have Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank for two heroic late saves which have kept Erik ten Hag and his team’s Champions League hopes alive.
Things could have looked even sweeter had referee Stephanie Frappart not rejected VAR’s advice to award a 92nd-minute penalty for Bayern Munich, meaning the group is on a knife-edge with one round of matches remaining.
Copenhagen thought they could nick a winner but Neuer’s cat-like reflexes meant Bayern saw out a 0-0 draw, meaning United can still qualify for the last-16 round.
To do so United, who are bottom of Group A on four points after Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Galatasaray, must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford as well as rely on a result in Denmark.
Copenhagen, second in the group on five points, host Galatasaray, third in the group on five points, have to draw alongside a United win for the Premier League side to reach the knockout stages.
Harry Kane was furious as Bayern Munich were denied a penalty which keeps Group A alive
Manuel Neuer made a heroic late double save to keep Man United alive in the tournament
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Having thrown away leads against Galatasaray – both home and away – and also away to Copenhagen, this has been a group that has been far more problematic for Man United than it should have been.
They now know that even a win over Bayern Munich, who rarely got out of second gear in this below-par display at the Allianz Arena, may not even be enough to reach the last-16.
‘We were winning and then we’re losing it,’ Ten Hag told TNT Sports after the 3-3 draw in Turkey.
‘We should have taken three points, that’s clear. We did this in other games. I was pleased with how we played but at the same time I have to criticise the team because the defending is not good enough.
‘We are leading 3-1 and we cannot afford mistakes as it makes a difference.’
Erik ten Hag’s side must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and hope for a draw elsewhere
It could have all been so different for United on the plane home had Copenhagen taken just one of their hatful of chances on a night where they snapped Bayern Munich’s winning run in the Champions League.
FC Copenhagen were worthy of their goalless draw, which in turn snapped Bayern’s 17-game winning run in group-stage matches.
It keeps them in control of their own destiny for a second-place finish, provided they get the better of Galatasaray at Parken Stadium next.
Bayern have already secured top spot in their group and are on 13 points, with Copenhagen in second on five.
The Germans looked off the boil but they have extended their unbeaten run to 39 straight group-stage matches in the competition.
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