Manchester United Waited Almost Three Years for a Champions League Night and Beat Azerbaijani Debutants Sabah Four-Nil
Manchester United marked their Champions League return with a 4-0 win over Sabah at Old Trafford, their first match in the competition since December 2023.
Manchester United had not played in the Champions League since December 2023, when a defeat by Bayern Munich confirmed a group-stage exit under Erik ten Hag. On 10 September they returned to the competition with a 4-0 win over Sabah of Azerbaijan at Old Trafford.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute and Bruno Fernandes added a second in the 42nd. Benjamin Sesko made it 3-0 just before half-time, and Lisandro Martínez completed the scoring in the 68th minute.
United, managed by Michael Carrick, had 21 shots to Sabah's 11, according to Opta. It was the club's biggest win in the opening match of a Champions League campaign since a 5-0 victory over Panathinaikos in 2003-04. Sabah, making their debut in the competition, fielded a starting line-up containing players from 11 different nations.
Elsewhere on the same night, Bayern Munich beat Bodø/Glimt 5-0, Como beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on their Champions League debut, and Lens won 3-2 against Slavia Prague. Fenerbahçe drew 1-1 with Roma and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk.
United's attention now turns to the Premier League and a Manchester derby at home to Manchester City on 13 September. Sabah return to domestic action away to Safa Baku in the Azerbaijan league on 14 September.