What Manchester United need to do to qualify for Champions League knockout stages

Manchester United kickstarted their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford.

After a sub-par first 45 minutes, the Reds seemed rejuvenated in the second half and got their reward on 72 minutes as Harry Maguire crashed home a header. United were let off the hook in the dying stages of the game though as Andre Onana produced a tremendous penalty save to ensure the three points remained in Manchester.

Jubilant scenes at Old Trafford followed with Erik ten Hag's men back on track for Champions League qualification. However, there is still plenty of work to be done, MEN Sport has taken a look at the current state of play in Group A and what United need to do to progress.

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At the halfway stage in the group United sit third with three points. They are a point behind Galatasaray who occupy and six behind leaders Bayern Munich. As things stand, the Reds would enter the Europa League play-offs where they would face a team who finished second in their group over two legs.

If United win their remaining three matches they will be through. Victories over Copenhagen away and Galatasaray at home are crucial. Six points from those two matches would leave Ten Hag's side in the top two heading into their final group game against Bayern. If the German side beat Galatasaray next up then United can progress with two wins in their next two games. As few as seven points could be enough to progress but this would require Copenhagen and Bayern doing favours for United.

Should United end level on points in a fight for second, the position in the group