Manchester United out of Europe with defeat by Bayern

• Posted on December 13, 2023December 13, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Manchester United’s season of misery plunged even further into the depths of despair as they exited the Champions League at the group stage after defeat by Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag’s side, beaten 3-0 at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, needed to beat the Bundesliga champions and hope that there was no winner in the other group game between Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

And even though Bayern were already comfortable winners of Group A, United were still unable to fulfil their part of the bargain on a night of bitter disappointment.

United were already handicapped by first-half injuries to England duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, with news filtering through that Copenhagen were ahead in Denmark.

Bayern sealed their fate by scoring the winner with 20 minutes left.

England captain Harry Kane, inevitably, was involved with a deft touch to release Kingsley Coman, who easily beat exposed United keeper Andre Onana in front of the Stretford End.

United won just one of their six group games in the competition and defeat against Bayern means they also missed the chance to drop into the Europa League by finishing third.

In the other match in Group A, Copenhagen held on to beat Galatasaray 1-0 to qualify for the last 16.