Manchester United make their long-awaited Champions League return as Michael Carrick’s side host Sabah in their opening competition clash.
The Premier League club are back among the European elite for the first time since 2023, a spell of just over 1,000 days, after Carrick’s transformative impact last season, with the manager now hoping to build on a slightly sluggish start domestically as he navigates a busy campaign. With a new-look midfield still bedding in, the United boss could look to rotate here with a short turnaround to Sunday’s Manchester derby to come.
Sabah are the champions of Azerbaijan and making their Champions League debut having come through four rounds of qualifying. Formed less than a decade ago, it has been a swift rise to Europe’s top table and they will be keen to cause a shock or two in this landmark campaign.
Follow all of the latest from the Champions League clash with our live blog below:
Man United 0-0 Sabah, 4 mins
Fernandes wins a second ball and passes first time to Sesko but it’s sloppy from the striker as he immediately gives the ball away.
United then press hard and goalkeeper Pokatilov only just gets the ball away under pressure. An ooh goes round Old Trafford.
Luke Baker10 September 2026 20:07
Man United 0-0 Sabah, 2 mins
Man United pressing hard early on as Sabah try to move up the field and win a couple of throw-ins.
When the hosts do get the ball back, they’re happy to patiently stroke it around, waiting for an opening to emerge.
Luke Baker10 September 2026 20:05
KICK-OFF! Man United 0-0 Sabah
Underway at Old Trafford. Man United are back in the Champions League
Luke Baker10 September 2026 20:04
Man United v Sabah
A minute’s silence for the flooding in Nepal.
Luke Baker10 September 2026 20:01
Man United v Sabah team news
The teams are out on the pitch at Old Trafford. Here’s a reminder of how they line up.
Four changes for Man United as Mazraoui, Yoro, Dorgu and Sesko come in.
Man United XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, Yoro, Martinez, Dorgu; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Sabah XI: Pokatilov, McCarthy, Dashdamirov, Rakhmonaliev, Nwachukwu, Parris, Lepinjica, Mickels, Simic, Puchacz, Zedadka.
Luke Baker10 September 2026 19:59
‘This is Sabah’s second Champions League game in England this season’
More from Richard Jolly at Old Trafford this evening
“This is Manchester United’s first Champions League game of the season but Sabah’s second in England already. They beat the Welsh champions, The New Saints, in Oswestry in July, before the World Cup had finished.”
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford10 September 2026 19:55
Carrick offers pre-match thoughts
And here’s some more extensive pre-match thoughts from Carrick as he prepares to bring United back to the Champions League for the first time since 2023
Luke Baker10 September 2026 19:51
Michael Carrick explains changes and Shaw absence
Michael Carrick has explained Luke Shaw’s absence from the squad this evening and discussed his four changes – with Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yorko, Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko all coming in
“It’s a little bit of that [managing him],” Carrick told TNT Sports. “He came off the other day [at Everton] with a little bit of cramp. We didn’t want to take any risks really.
“We tried to manage him so we will see how he is after this one.”
On the four changes, Carrick said: “We wanted to change a little bit and freshen things a little bit, but try to get the balance right.
“Attacking-wise, we feel we’re really strong. I feel we’ve got a really good team, you know, and a good squad. We didn’t want to change too many. It’s not easy, as you know, playing in a team with too many changes as well.”
Luke Baker10 September 2026 19:46
Old Trafford warm-ups
The warm-ups are in full swing at Old Trafford
Luke Baker10 September 2026 19:38
WATCH: Why Carlos Baleba fixes Man United’s biggest problem
Man United are still waiting for summer singing Carlos Baleba to get up to speed and make his debut but Adam Clery has made an ACFC video explaining why the former Brighton midfielder is exactly what the Red Devils need
Luke Baker10 September 2026 19:27NewerOlder