Man Utd vs Bayern Munich LIVE: Red Devils knocked out of Champions League after defeat at Old Trafford

Dayot Upamecano strides forward purposefully, sparking Bayern Munich into action. A raking pass from the right is headed to Alphonso Davies by Diogo Dalot, the Portuguese full-back not directing his clearing header away as intended, but a heavy touch ensures Manchester United smother Davies and clear more correctly.

Worrying start from the hosts, split open immediately by Kingsley Coman and Harry Kane up the right. Kane’s cross evades Leroy Sane at the far post, and the flag is up - the England captain had just strayed offside in the build-up, but there was plenty of space to find.

Manchester United vs Bayern Munich is underway.

So little to Bayern to play for, with the onus very much on Manchester United to force a result. But it is out of their hands - if there is a winner between Copenhagen and Galatasary, Erik ten Hag’s side will be out of the Champions League.

Out the players come onto the Old Trafford surface. A healthy contingent of travelling Bayern support, ringed by the yellow-jacketed stewards.

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel spoke about facing Manchester United saying: “A game in Manchester is always big. They’re a big club, electrifying. We are preparing as best we can for the best possible United.

“They are very good and difficult to play against. We hope that we can ensure they do not reach their best.

“The club has a certain aura. It’s part of the club’s DNA that they can get through difficult moments. They have ups and downs, but have scored a lot of goals recently.

“In strong moments you can see what they are really capable of. The stadium creates special moments. It will be a big challenge for us.”

Scott McTominay has claimed that Manchester United’s players are fully behind Erik ten Hag by contrasting it with the toxic atmosphere around Old Trafford as previous managers neared the sack.

The United top scorer was in the squad as Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick’s reigns unravelled and insisted that, unlike then, Ten Hag has the support of the dressing room now.

United have lost 11 games this season and could go out of the Champions League on Tuesday, when even a win against Bayern Munich might not be enough to keep them in the competition.

Rasmus Højlund has scored five goals in this season’s group stage, level with Álvaro Morata and Erling Haaland as top scorer after Matchday 5.

United must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to have any hope of qualifying, and even then they need other results to go their way.

If United beat Bayern, they will only go through to the last-16 if the match between FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray finishes as a draw.

If either Copenhagen or Galatasaray win, United will be knocked out of the Champions League, regardless of their result against Bayern.

United will go through to the Europa League if they finish third, which would be confirmed if they beat Bayern, regardless of the result between Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

United will finish fourth and would be out of Europe if they lose at Old Trafford, or if both Group A matches finish as a draw.

The aims were subtly shifted. Erik ten Hag tried to argue that he did not contemplate the consequences of failure. And yet, as Manchester United may be powerless to prevent ejection from the Champions League, Ten Hag did not refer to the competition by name. United could be plunged into the Europa League.

Lose to Bayern Munich and it is guaranteed they will be out of all continental competitions. Ten Hag did his best to sound upbeat but downgraded his targets.

“What I know is I never think of a negative scenario, we think positive,” said Ten Hag. “We know what to do, we have to win to stay in Europe, it’s about that.”