UCL: Things To Know As Manchester United Welcome Sabah To Old Trafford

Manchester United will look to make a winning return to the Champions League when they welcome Azerbaijani champions Sabah to Old Trafford on Thursday night.

The fixture marks United’s first Champions League campaign in three seasons, while Sabah will be competing at this stage of European football for the first time.

United missed out on European competition entirely in 2025-26, their first absence since 2014-15. Their return to the Champions League will be their 26th appearance in the competition, an English record.

The Red Devils last featured in the competition in 2023-24, finishing fourth in a group containing Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Head coach Michael Carrick will be under pressure to oversee a strong European campaign, although United are unlikely to be regarded among the leading contenders for the trophy.

The 20-time English champions head into Thursday’s fixture after drawing 2-2 with Everton on Sunday. United have collected four points from their opening three Premier League matches, leaving them 11th in the table and five points behind leaders Manchester City.

United have lifted the European Cup three times, winning it in 1968, 1999 and 2008. Their most recent appearance in the Champions League knockout stages came in 2021-22, when they were eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

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Alongside Sabah, United will face Atletico Madrid, Como, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal during the league phase.

Sabah, meanwhile, have already played eight Champions League matches this season after beginning their qualifying campaign in July.

The Azerbaijani side defeated TNS, KuPS, Aarhus and Hapoel Be’er Sheva across the qualifying rounds to reach the league phase for the first time. They also arrive at Old Trafford in confident mood after a 5-0 domestic victory over Zira.

Valdas Dambrauskas’ side, the reigning Azerbaijani champions, have also made a perfect start to their domestic campaign, collecting nine points from three matches to sit top of the league.

The Owls will nevertheless face a major test against a United side desperate to make an impression on their Champions League return. United have won just one of their last seven Champions League group-stage matches, losing four of those games.

Sabah can draw confidence from their own impressive European run. They have won six of their eight Champions League matches this season and kept four clean sheets.

They are also one of four clubs making their debut in the Champions League league phase this season, alongside Como, LASK and Viking.

Manchester United form (all competitions):

L
W
D

Sabah form (Champions League):

W
W
L
W
L
W

Sabah form (all competitions):

W
W
L
W
W
W

Team News

Manchester United will again be without Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Carlos Baleba (ankle), Amad Diallo (ankle) and Tom Heaton (hamstring) for their Champions League opener.

Marcus Rashford is also a doubt after being substituted in the second half against Everton because of a minor issue.

Carrick is expected to rotate his squad with the Manchester derby against Manchester City coming up on Sunday afternoon. Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Andrey Santos and Benjamin Sesko could all be handed starts.

Sesko continued to build his match fitness from the bench against Everton and scored late in the contest, potentially putting himself in contention to lead the attack against Sabah.

Sabah have no reported injury concerns ahead of their historic European fixture at Old Trafford.

Joy-Lance Mickels has been one of their standout performers this season, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 11 appearances. The 32-year-old is expected to spearhead their attacking threat.

Veljko Simic has also impressed with seven goals and one assist this season, while Kaheem Parris is expected to feature in the attacking line.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Mazraoui; Santos, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Sabah possible starting lineup:

Pokatilov; Solvet, Dashdamirov, Puchacz, Zedadka; Rakhmonaliev, Isaev, Lepinjica, Parris; Mickels, Simic

Manchester United 3-1 Sabah