Manchester United make winning Champions League return with 4-0 rout of Sabah FK

Manchester United marked their first Champions League appearance in more than three years with a commanding 4-0 win over Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK at Old Trafford, their heaviest victory in the competition since 2020.

Sabah, who navigated four qualifying rounds to reach the league phase for the first time in the club’s history, showed ambition in spells but struggled against the Premier League side’s quality. All five English entrants in this season’s competition have now opened with wins.

Head coach Michael Carrick saw his side effectively settle the match by the break, with goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko. Lisandro Martinez added the fourth after pouncing on a loose ball.

The night carried particular significance for Sesko, making his first start since 3 May. The Slovenian striker gave United’s attack a focal point that had been missing through the club’s opening three league games, strengthening his case for a starting role in Sunday’s Manchester derby. Carrick now faces a selection decision on the left flank between Cunha and Marcus Rashford, who was an unused substitute.

United came into the match with four points from their first three Premier League fixtures, and Carrick acknowledged the need for improvement. In the Champions League, however, the emphatic opening leaves the club well positioned in the early league-phase standings behind holders Paris St-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

A demanding schedule lies ahead, with away trips to Atletico Madrid, Como and Sporting Lisbon, plus home fixtures against Roma and Bayern Munich.

United’s on-field fortunes are closely followed by investors in Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU), the club’s listed parent company. Shares of MANU closed at $20.02, down 1.96% from the previous close of $20.42, valuing the company at roughly $3.45 billion. The stock sits in the communication services sector, within the entertainment industry, and the club’s commercial business — spanning sponsorship, merchandising and retail — is closely tied to competitive performance, particularly the revenue opportunities presented by Champions League participation.

What to watch

• Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City and the impact of the result on squad selection.
• United’s next Champions League fixtures, including trips to Atletico Madrid, Como and Sporting Lisbon, and home matches with Roma and Bayern Munich.
• Upcoming MANU quarterly results and commercial updates, which may reflect Champions League-related revenue.

Source: original release