Manchester United Host Sabah in Champions League Opener at Old Trafford
Champions League Returns for Manchester United Against Sabah
Manchester United welcome Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah to Old Trafford on Thursday for their first-ever competitive encounter. This marks United's eagerly awaited return to the Champions League after a three-year absence.
United missed out on European football last season, breaking a streak dating back to 2014-15. They arrive following a dramatic 2-2 draw at Everton where they twice led before conceding a late equaliser from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Currently, they stand 11th in the Premier League with four points from three games.
Sabah come into this match brimming with confidence after winning six of eight Champions League qualifiers, securing their first-ever entry into the group stage. Their momentum continues after a commanding 5-0 victory over Zira in the domestic league, highlighted by a hat-trick from Joy-Lance Mickels.
Match Details
- Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Old Trafford
- Referee: Willy Delajod (France)
- Previous meetings: First competitive meeting
Team Updates
Michael Carrick’s squad faces several absences with Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Carlos Baleba (ankle), Amad Diallo (ankle), and Tom Heaton (hamstring) all sidelined. Marcus Rashford is under assessment after a muscular issue forced him off against Everton but is expected to play. Given the upcoming Manchester derby, Carrick may rotate his squad, potentially bringing back Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, and Andrey Santos.
Sabah have a fully fit squad available. Joy-Lance Mickels, who has netted eight goals in 11 appearances this season, will spearhead their attack alongside Veljko Simic. Kaheem Parris is also likely to start under coach Valdas Dambrauskas.
Current Form
The Red Devils have struggled in recent Champions League group games, winning just once in seven matches and losing four. Their last run past the group stage was in 2021-22 when Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the round of 16. They have earned four points from three Premier League games so far, trailing leaders Manchester City by five points.
Sabah boast six wins from eight Champions League qualifying matches, including four clean sheets, which propelled them into the group stage for the first time. They are among four teams making their debut in the league phase this season alongside Como, LASK, and Viking. Domestically, they lead the Azerbaijan Premier League after three straight wins.
Projected Lineups
- Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Mazraoui; Santos, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
- Sabah: Pokatilov; Solvet, Dashdamirov, Puchacz, Zedadka; Rakhmonaliev, Isaev, Lepinjica, Parris; Mickels, Simic
Broadcast Information
The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Streaming will be available on HBO Max.
