What Manchester United Need To Qualify For Champions League Knockout Stages

Manchester United's loss to PSG on Wednesday night puts their future in this season's Champions League at risk, but all is not lost just yet.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were handed the 'group of death' when the draw was made at the beginning of October but against the odds they beat PSG and RB Leipzig in the opening two games to make qualifying seem a certainty.

Disaster struck in the shock loss to Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey but a win in the return fixture left them needing just one point from two games.

On Wednesday Neymar scored twice, as Fred was sent off in the second half, to give PSG a 3-1 win and leave United in desperate need of something away to Leipzig next week.

Fortunately one Reddit user perfectly outlined what needs to happen for the Premier League side to make it through the group.

How United can make it through. Image: Reddit

It's pretty simple in terms of going through or not for the three time European champions, with a win or a draw taking them into the last 16 no matter what.

That's helped by the fact United beat Leipzig 5-0 in their first encounter at Old Trafford and, with the Champions League groups being decided by head-to-head record not goal difference first, it means they would finish above Julian Nagelsmann's side if they finish level on points.

Any sort of loss would also mean they go out and drop into the Europa League at the beginning of 2021, not where they want to be.

Things get a bit more complicated for the Red Devils when it comes to finishing top or runners up in the group, and once again that is due to head-to-head.

United's 2-1 win against PSG in Gameweek one followed by the Parisians 3-1 win last night, thanks to Neymar's injury time goal, means that Thomas Tuchel's side are leading on 'aggregate.'

Should both sides have the same result next week then United would finish below the Ligue 1 side, which is exactly why a loss for both teams would result in Solskjaer's side going out.

After winning those opening two games, United and Solskjaer will be desperate to make it through next week.

Will United do it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Topics: Football News, Manchester United, PSG, Premier League, Champions League, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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