Manchester United’s hopes for UEFA Champions League qualification suffered a setback as they squandered leads twice, ultimately losing 4-3 to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night due to 17-year-old Roony Bardghji’s late winner in Copenhagen.
Rasmus Hojlund’s brace in the 3rd and 28th minutes initially placed Manchester United in the lead during the first half. However, fate took a turn as goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi (45th minute) and Diogo Goncalves (45th+9 penalty) leveled the score for FC Copenhagen.
Bruno Fernandes then successfully converted a penalty in the 69th minute to put Manchester United back in the lead. Nonetheless, Bardghji’s 87th-minute strike secured a match-winning lead for FC Copenhagen.
With one win and one loss, Manchester United finds itself at the bottom of Group A. FC Copenhagen is in the second spot with four points, winning one match, losing two, and drawing one.
In another Group A match, German powerhouse Bayern Munich defeated Galatasaray 2-1. Former Tottenham star and English international Harry Kane scored two goals in the 80th and 86th minutes. Cedric Bakambu’s stoppage-time goal for Munich fell short.
Munich leads Group A with 12 points, having won all four matches. Galatasaray is in the third spot with four points.
Turning to Group B, goals from Leandro Trossard (29th minute) and Bukayo Saka (64th minute) propelled Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over Sevilla, maintaining their top position with nine points from three wins and one loss in four matches. Sevilla is at the bottom with just two points, losing two matches and drawing two.
In another Group B game, Luuk de Jong’s 12th-minute strike helped PSV Eindhoven secure a 1-0 win over RC Lens, elevating them to the second spot with one win, two draws, and a loss in four matches. Lens, with the same win-loss record and points tally, is in third place in the group.
In their Group C match, Real Madrid defeated Braga 3-0, securing their dominance with four wins in four matches. Goals from Brahim Diaz (27th minute), Vinicius Junior (58th minute), and Rodrygo (61st minute) condemned Braga to the third spot with just three points, winning one match and losing three out of four matches.
In another Group C match, Napoli and FC Union Berlin played to a 1-1 draw. Matteo Politano put Napoli in the lead with a 39th-minute strike, and David Datro Fofana scored an equalizer in the 52nd minute. Napoli is in the second spot with two wins, a loss, and a draw, totaling seven points. FC Union Berlin is at the bottom, losing three games and drawing one.
Moving to Group D, Real Sociedad defeated Benfica 3-1, with goals from Mikel Merino (6th minute), Mikel Oyarzabal (11th minute), and Ander Barrenetxea (21st minute). Rafa Silva scored the solitary goal for Benfica in the 49th minute.
Sociedad tops the group with 10 points after three wins and a draw in four matches. Benfica is at the bottom, losing all four matches.
Inter Milan won the other Group D contest, with Lautaro Martinez converting a penalty in the 85th minute against Red Bull Salzburg. Inter Milan is in second place in the group with 10 points after three wins and a draw. Red Bull Salzburg is in third place with three points, winning one match and losing three.
(With ANI inputs)