Manchester United will be aiming to begin their 2026-27 Champions League league phase campaign on a winning note when they welcome Azerbaijani outfit Sabah on Thursday night.
This is Man United’s first Champions League campaign in three seasons, while it will be the first time that Sabah have competed at this level of European football.
United were absent from European competition in 2025-26 for the first time since 2014-15, and this will represent their first Champions League campaign in three seasons
and their 26th overall, which is an English record.
In 2023-24, Man United finished fourth in a section which included Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray, and there is undoubtedly pressure on head coach Michael Carrick to deliver a positive Champions League campaign, but winning the trophy this season is a long shot.
The 20-time English champions will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday; four points have been secured from three games this season, which has left them in 11th spot in the Premier League table, five points off leaders Manchester City.
The Red Devils have won the European Cup on three previous occasions, first lifting the famous trophy in 1968, before triumphing in 1999 and 2008, while their last progression to the knockout round came in 2021-22, losing to Atletico Madrid in the round of 16.
Man United will also take on Atletico Madrid, Como, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal in the league phase of this season’s Champions League.
Team News
United will again be without the services of Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Carlos Baleba (ankle), Amad Diallo (ankle) and Tom Heaton (hamstring) for their Champions League opener with Sabah.
Marcus Rashford also needs to be assessed, with the attacker brought off against Everton in the second half due to a slight issue.
Carrick is expected to make changes to his side ahead of the Manchester derby against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, with Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Andrey Santos and Benjamin Sesko potentially being introduced.
Sesko continued to build his minutes off the bench against Everton, finding the back of the net late on, and the striker could now be brought into the XI.
Sabah, meanwhile, have a fully-fit squad for the European clash at Old Trafford.
Champions League Schedule
It’s an evening kickoff in the UK, which means a 3:00 p.m. kickoff on the East Coast of the U.S.
Champions League Channel
The match is on TNT in the UK. Those Stateside can watch on Paramount+. In Canada, it’s on DAZN and Fubo.
Everyone else, head on over to LiveSoccerTV to find your viewing options.
Predicted Lineup
Manchester United possible starting lineup: (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Mazraoui; Santos, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
