Manchester United had a triumphant return to the Champions League, defeating Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford. The match, part of the 2026/27 Champions League group stage, was a significant moment for the team, especially with a crucial Manchester derby against Manchester City approaching in just three days.

United's head coach, Michael Carrick, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, which saw them effectively secure the win in the first half. Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko put the Red Devils ahead 3-0 by halftime. Lisandro Martinez added a fourth goal in the second half, solidifying the team's dominance.

This match was particularly important for Sesko, who made his first start since May 3. His fresh presence in the attack was a welcome change for United, who had struggled to find their rhythm in the Premier League season's opening matches. His performance could earn him a starting spot in the upcoming derby against City.

After more than 1,000 days away from the Champions League, Manchester United could not have asked for a more favorable opponent than Sabah. Despite creating a few chances, Sabah faced a harsh lesson in the disparity between the Azerbaijani champions and the Premier League, where all five representatives kicked off their Champions League campaigns with victories.

Looking ahead, United will face tough away matches against Atletico Madrid, Como, and Sporting Lisbon, along with home games against Roma and Bayern Munich. Therefore, the victory over Sabah is crucial, allowing United to avoid early pressure in the group stage, unlike their current situation in the Premier League.

As the group stage progresses, Manchester United finds themselves in a promising position, currently sitting just behind reigning champions PSG and Barcelona in the rankings. The final score of the match was Manchester United 4, Sabah 0, with the first-half score being 3-0.

Goals scored by Manchester United: Cunha (27', assisted by Dorgu), Bruno Fernandes (42', assisted by Tielemans), Sesko (45', assisted by Mbeumo), and Martinez (68').

The starting lineup for Manchester United included Lammens, Mazraoui, Yoro, Martinez, Dorgu, Mainoo, Tielemans, Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, and Sesko, while Sabah's lineup featured Pokatilov, Zedadka, McCarthy, Dashdamirov, Puchacz, Rakhmonaliev, Lepinjica, Parris, Simic, Nwachukwu, and Mickels.