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Manchester United Returns to Champions League with Sabah Clash
Confirmed
In Short: Manchester United made a strong return to the Champions League with a 4-0 victory over debutants Sabah, marking their 300th appearance in the competition.
Manchester United returned to the UEFA Champions League in style with a 4-0 league phase win against competition debutants Sabah of Azerbaijan, marking their 300th appearance in the competition. The match, played at Old Trafford, saw the Red Devils storm into a three-goal lead at halftime, with goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko. The victory was a statement for United, who had been absent from the Champions League for three seasons.
The match had a special significance for Manchester United, as it was their first appearance in Europe's most elite club tournament in three seasons. The home side entered the match with several players capable of making the difference, particularly at the back, where Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Diogo Dalot, and Luke Shaw provided experience. United looked to prevent the visitors from finding opportunities on the counterattack, and their strategy paid off with a convincing win.
For Sabah, visiting Old Trafford in their first Champions League match represented one of the biggest moments in the club’s history. The Azerbaijani champions had to overcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the qualifying rounds to make it to the main event. Despite the daunting task, Sabah entered the match with a sense of unfamiliarity, as they were completely new to the competition.
The match began with a slow start by United, which drew some minor groans from the Old Trafford faithful. However, any nerves settled once Cunha tapped in Patrick Dorgu’s low cross in the 27th minute. United captain Fernandes, who was among the candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, netted the second after a passing move that showed the growing confidence in the home side. Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Lisandro Martínez sealed the win for United.
The victory was not without its close moments. Cunha went close to his second, and United’s fourth, on the hour mark, but his curled effort from the edge of the box was too close to the keeper. There was a final chance for Sabah to take a goal away from Old Trafford, but Parris drilled a late, low effort across the goal when he should have at least tested the keeper. Despite the late pressure, United held on to secure a convincing win, marking their return to the Champions League in style.
What's confirmed
- Manchester United and Sabah face each other on Thursday, September 10, 2026, on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League.
What's still developing
- Russ Wilcox has been Gainsborough Trinity manager since 2023 A non-league club have condemned a person who has been approaching players to make transfer and wage offers while falsely claiming to be their manager.
- "It's quite serious. If we were speaking directly to a player, it's an illegal approach, it's tapping up and the club can get in trouble with the FA and the leagues," he told BBC Lincolnshire.
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- Gainsborough Trinity, who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division - in the seventh tier of English football - say the individual has contacted "a number of players" across different levels of the non-league pyramid.
- "Stop impersonating our manager, stop wasting the time of players and clubs across the non-league game and, quite frankly, get a life." Gainsborough, who reached the FA Cup second round in 2024-25 and first round last season under Wilcox, have made the Northern Premier League and Football Association aware of the incidents.
- Manchester United vs Sabah will be available to stream live in the United States on DAZN USA and Paramount+, which carries the full UEFA Champions League schedule in English.
- There is no guaranteed free legal live stream for Manchester United vs Sabah in the United States.