Manchester United Returns to Champions League With Old Trafford Clash Against Debuts Sabah FK
Manchester United Returns to Champions League With Old Trafford Clash Against Debuts Sabah FK
Manchester United opened its Champions League league-phase campaign at home to Azerbaijani side Sabah FK on Thursday, the club’s first appearance in Europe’s premier competition since the 2023/24 season, when it exited in the group stage with four losses in six matches against Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.
United earned its return by finishing third in the Premier League last season after spending the prior campaign outside all three UEFA club competitions. The match carried commercial significance as well as sporting weight: Manchester United (NYSE: MANU), which trades in the entertainment sector with a market capitalization of roughly $3.44 billion, saw its shares close at $19.97, down 2.2% from the previous close of $20.42.
The visitors represent one of the more unlikely stories of this season’s competition. Founded only in 2017, Sabah is playing in the league phase of a European tournament for the first time in its short history. The club is managed by Valdas Dambrauskas, whose unconventional path to a Champions League touchline — he first drew attention after winning money on a Lithuanian television game show and parlaying it into a coaching career — has drawn widespread attention.
Match Events
The match at Old Trafford was officiated by Willy Delajod of France. United fielded a lineup including Senne Lammens in goal, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, and Patrick Dorgu across the back, with Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans in midfield behind Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, and Matheus Cunha supporting Benjamin Sesko up front.
Sabah started with Stanislav Pokatilov in goal and a back line of Akim Zedadka, Tymoteusz Puchacz, Rahil Dasdemirov, and Alex McCarthy.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute, when Cunha put United in front. Dorgu flicked a cross from the left toward the front of goal, where the Brazilian finished to give the home side the lead.
What to watch
- Whether United can build on its Premier League form through the remainder of the Champions League league phase.
- How Sabah — a first-time league-phase participant — fares in its remaining fixtures against European opposition.
- United’s next scheduled Champions League fixture and subsequent Premier League results, which bear directly on competition revenue.
- MANU share movement in upcoming trading sessions and the company’s next quarterly earnings report.
Source: original release