Manchester United in the Champions League: out of 3 participations, only Ronaldo in the team? This can also be the reality

Manchester United literally need a miracle to advance in the last round of the Champions League group stage. Not only do they have to beat Bayern Munich, who are not just giving away points at this stage, but they must also hope for a draw in the second game of their group. Let’s take a look at the Red Devils’ recent participation in the millionaire competition.

2020/21 season

Manchester United entered the regular group in an absolutely fantastic way. Marcus Rashford scored a goal at the end of the game at the Park Princes to make it 1:2 and his team took 3 points from Paris. In the second group match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team took on RB Leipzig 5:0 with gusto, with a hat-trick by the once again fabulous Rashford.

The problem came in the next match at Basaksehir, where Manchester United lost 2:1. However, the home side managed to win the rematch 4:1 and keep their hopes of promotion alive. In the penultimate match, a well-deserved home defeat against PSG (1:2). This result made the promotion calculations very complicated, as the Red Devils were not allowed to lose in their last match at Leipzig because of it.

The Norwegian coach ordered his wards to play with 5 defenders, and this was fatal for the team. Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right wing-back? That wasn’t quite the right fit. Leipzig took a two-goal lead in a matter of moments, and they were in control for the rest of the game. Although Manchester United tried to turn the game around, they couldn’t, losing 2:3 to send the English team to the Europa League.

Only promotion season for Manchester United

The 2021/22 season is the only one of the aforementioned in which the English team managed to advance to the knockout fights. In the opening game of the season, Manchester United were 0:1 down at home to Villarreal at half-time, before Alex Telles equalised and Cristiano Ronaldo turned the game around in the final minutes. The Portuguese also scored in the next game at Young Boys, where the Red Devils lost surprisingly 2:1.

It wouldn’t be Manchester United if they hadn’t been 0:2 down after the first half of their home game against Atalanta. Csaplar’s favourite trap failed this time. Rashford reduced it to 1:2, Harry Maguire scored the equalizer and the match was turned around again by the Portuguese canon.

Ronaldo played a major role in the rematch, equalizing at the end of both halves. Thanks to him, the Red Devils took at least a point for the 2:2 draw. In the penultimate match of the group, United won 0:2 at Villarreal after goals from Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. They have thus secured qualification early. In the spring, they were eliminated in the opening knockout round against Atlético Madrid.

Season 2023/24

After a one-year break, Manchester United returned to the Champions League. They failed to win their first game, losing 3:4 to Bayern Munich. In the second match, Galatasaray came to Old Trafford. After mistakes by André Onana, who also gave Leroy Sané a goal in the previous match, the Turkish club won 2:3. At least the Red Devils managed to win the third game, beating Copenhagen 1:0. Onana saved the win in the last moments of the game with a penalty.

In Copenhagen, however, after the sending off of Rashford, despite leading 2:0, the match ended in a 3:3 draw. Manchester United did not take into account the home team’s attacking players at all, which proved fatal for them. The last game played so far is vivid in everyone’s memory. Probably it is unnecessary to analyze the match, as enough has been written about Onana’s mistakes.

So in the last match Manchester United must beat Bayern Munich at home stadium for sure. However, even that may not be enough, as both other teams will advance at the expense of the English big club if they win. Thus, the Red Devils will probably only advance from the Champions League group of the last participation if Cristiano Ronaldo, who helped in no small way, wears his jersey.

Source: UEFA, Manchester United