Manchester United were dumped out of the Champions League, and European football entirely, as Bayern Munich ran out 1-0 victors at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag's side already needed a miracle prior to kickoff and when Copenhagen took the lead against Galatasaray in the other match, their chances of remaining in the competition were virtually impossible. They needed to beat Bayern and see the other game end in a draw to have any chance of going through to the Round of 16.
As it was, Kingsley Coman's goal sealed Bayern's win and meant United exited the competition at the bottom of the group for the first time in 18 years.
When the group was drawn back in August, United fans weren't exactly filled with confidence but their side were expected to pick up more than three points in their home fixtures. Ultimately, that is what cost them their Champions League campaign, not the fact that they couldn't win tonight. Their away form also made it incredibly difficult to reach the knockout stages as they failed to win on the road despite taking the lead on numerous occasions.
The defeat sees Man United finish fourth in Group A. It's only the fourth time in history that a Premier League side has finished bottom of their Champions League group, and it's the first time it's happened to the Red Devils since 2005/06.
The Dutch manager had his side organised in the first half and kept Bayern at bay, but the visitors' brilliance shone through in the second half as they began to dominate possession. Coman played a sensational one-two pass with Harry Kane to find space in the box before calmly slotting past Andre Onana. The England captain has as many assists at Old Trafford this season as Bruno Fernandes.
United had one half chance in the first 15 minutes of the second half before Thomas Tuchel's team took control. Fernandes was picked out well by Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the edge of the box but his effort was fired high over the bar.
For United, it now means there will be no European football in the second half of the season, and their fixture calendar completely frees up with them only competing in the FA Cup alongside the Premier League. Could this be a blessing in disguise given their injury problems this season? Only time will tell, but things must improve if Ten Hag is to keep his job once Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally takes sporting control of a club that is failing.
Oh, and it's Liverpool away next.
MORE: How can Man United qualify for the knockouts?
Man United vs Bayern Munich final score
Final score | Goalscorers | |
Man United | 0 | — |
Bayern Munich | 1 | Coman 71' |
Man United vs Bayern Munich live updates, highlights from Premier League
FT: More boos at Old Trafford as United finish fourth in their group and are dumped out of the Champions League.
90th minute: There are five minutes added on but this game felt over as soon as Coman found the net.
83rd minute: Kane's header is just wide. United have dealt with him well tonight.
81st minute: More changes for United as Mainoo comes on for Varane. They need two goals to even have the slightest of chances.
71st minute: GOAL! 0-1! That might just be the nail in the coffin for United's European football hopes. Coman smashes home from just outside the six-yard box after a beautiful one-two pass with Kane.
70th minute: Bayern have really killed United's threat in the last 15 minutes and have dominated the possession.
67th minute: Musiala makes way for Muller.
62nd minute: Like Fernandes a few moments ago, Kimmich tries an effort from the edge of the box but it sails over.
59th minute: McTominay tries to poke a through ball to Garnacho but it's too far ahead of the winger. A better ball would have created a perfect angle for a curling shot from the Argentine.
57th minute: This is not the news United fans were hoping to hear. Copenhagen have taken the lead against Galatasaray. Even if the hosts were to win at Old Trafford, that would only be enough for the Europa League.
53rd minute: Fernandes picks the pockets of Kimmich who is caught off guard on the edge of the box. The Portuguese midfielder then tries a cute curling effort to the far post but it's narrowly wide.
52nd minute: Garnacho slides in a tasty ball for Hojlund and Antony to attack but neither can quite get there. The crowd are energised.
49th minute: HUGE chance for United. It's the skipper who finds himself unmarked on the edge of the box but Fernandes blasts an effort over the bar. Wan-Bisska did really well to pick him out.
46th minute: We're back underway for the second half. United make a substitution as Wan-Bissaka replaces Luke Shaw, who was feeling his hamstring before the break.
Another defensive switch for United ℹ️@AWBissaka 🔄 @LukeShaw23#MUFC || #UCL pic.twitter.com/COdV8cevHu
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2023
HT: It's a half-time score that keeps United in the match, and more importantly keeps their Champions League hopes alive. In Copenhagen, it also remains goalless. That will need to stay the same if United are to progress.
43rd minute: Garnacho is allowed to run the length of the pitch down the left and just as he enters the 18-yard box, Upamecano intercepts. He couldn't decide whether to go for goal himself or find Hojlund.
41st minute: Maguire tries to continue but can't and Evans comes on. A timely reminder of what we posted earlier in the blog: United's bench tonight has scored just 10 goals for the first team, 70% of which are from Jonny Evans' first spell at the club.
37th minute: A break in play as Maguire kicks the ball out to seek treatment. Jonny Evans comes out to warm up.
33rd minute: Huge appeals for handball from the home crowd as the ball hits Min-Jae but he knew nothing about it. That would have been an incredibly harsh penalty.
32nd minute: The corner is taken short and Bayern counter at pace through Coman whose cross finds Sane at the far post but the former City man couldn't sort his feet out. United get away with one.
31st minute: United have a free-kick in a dangerous position and Fernandes takes it but it's deflected out for a corner.
26th minute: Sane brilliantly dribbles into United's box without being touched but can't get his shot off as Dalot clears the danger.
24th minute: In true Patrice Evra fashion, Luke Shaw drills an effort goalwards at Neuer but this time the German made the save on this occasion.
22nd minute: Bayern fans are currently holding a red and white banner with the following message: "£50, Glazers overkill! £20 is plenty!"
17th minute: Musiala is brought down in the box by Maguire. The Englishman is slightly late to the challenge on the Bayern midfielder but the contact appears minimal and VAR says play on.
15th minute: That's the second time that Hojlund has been wrestled to the ground with his back to goal. It's also the second time that the referee has waved play on.
11th minute: Mazraoui is picked out by Kane down the right flank but the right-back can't get his cross to Sane, who made an unmarked run at the back post. It would have been an easy tap-in.
8th minute: Antony's trickery beats three men before he eventually runs out of room and the attack breaks down.
4th minute: A good move down the right sees Dalot's cross blocked and it goes out for a corner. It's been a decent start for the hosts.
1st minute: We're underway at Old Trafford and it is a cracking atmosphere in here.
10 mins until kickoff: The travelling Bayern fans are in great voice ahead of kickoff, which is coming next...
30 mins until kickoff: If the home side need inspiration off the bench tonight for a goal, they may struggle. United's bench tonight has scored just 10 goals for the first team, 70% of which are from Jonny Evans' first spell at the club.
1 hour until kickoff: The other piece of crucial team news is that there is NO Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial in the United squad this evening. A certain Harry Kane starts in a. very strong Bayern team.
1 hour 15 mins until kickoff: Team news is in for United. There are two changes for the hosts from their embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend. Anthony Martial comes out of the starting XI for Rasmus Hojlund, as does Sergio Reguilon who is replaced by Raphael Varane.
📣 TEAM NEWS 📣
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2023
Two changes for United:
➡️ @RaphaelVarane
➡️ Rasmus Hojlund
⬅️ @Sergio_Regui
⬅️ @AnthonyMartial#MUFC || #UCL
1 hour 30 mins until kickoff: What needs to happen tonight for United to go through? The simple answer is that they must win and then pray for a result in Denmark and that result has got to be a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Only those two outcomes would see Ten Hag's side through the knockout stages.
1 hour 45 mins until kickoff: The United manager has had his say on the club's inconsistent form this season: "It is no good turning in a strong performance every other game; we are capable of much more than that, but we have to find our consistency and rhythm."
2 hours until kickoff: A reminder of how things look ahead of tonight's match. There is just an 8% chance of United qualifying for the knockout stages according to Opta, so Erik ten Hag'se side are really up against it. They need to rely on the other game between Copenhagen and Galatasaray, as well as get the three points themselves.
UCL - Group A (21:00 CET):
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) December 12, 2023
🇩🇰 FC Copenhagen vs 🇹🇷 Galatasaray
🏴 Man United vs 🇩🇪 Bayern Munich
To reach Round of 16:
🇩🇰 FC Copenhagen - 56%
🇹🇷 Galatasaray - 36%
🏴 Man United - 8%
In case of a draw, FC Copenhagen will be placed above Galatasaray.
(% per @EuroClubIndex) pic.twitter.com/EvohjHE1ir
Man United vs Bayern Munich lineups
Ten Hag desperately needs a spark from his attack but Marcus Rashford starts on the bench as he missed training yesterday due to illness.
Harry Kane will come up against his England teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in United's defence.
Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana (GK) — Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw — Amrabat, McTominay — Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho — Hojlund.
Man United subs (12): Bayindir, Heaton, Evans, Reguilon, Wan-Bissaka, Gore, Hannibal, Mainoo, Pellistri, Hugill.
Bayern Munich starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer (GK) — Mazrouai, Upamecano, Kim, Davies — Kimmich, Goretzka — Coman, Musiala, Sane — Kane.
Bayern Munich subs (12): Peretz, Choupo-Moting, Guerreiro, Muller, Laimer, Tel, Kratzig, Pavlovic.
MORE: UEFA Champions League group stage standings, results, schedule, and fixtures for 2023/24
How to watch Man United vs Bayern Munich
Here's how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
Region | TV | Streaming |
USA | TUDN USA, Univision | Fubo, Paramount+, ViX, Univision NOW |
Canada | — | |
UK | TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate | discovery+ |
Australia | — | Stan Sport |
India | — | Sony LIV, JioTV |
USA: This game is available via Paramount+ with additional streaming options on Fubo. Spanish language coverage is provided by ViX and Univision NOW.
Canada: Every Champions League game this season is live streaming exclusively via DAZN in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every Champions League match live and on demand on Stan Sport.
UK: This match is available for live broadcast via TNT Sports with streaming options on discovery+.