Manchester United secured a 4-0 victory over Sabah at Old Trafford, marking their return to the Champions League with goals from Cunha, Fernandes, Sesko, and Martínez.
Key facts
- •Manchester United returned to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
- •Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Lisandro Martínez were the goalscorers.
- •Sabah was making its debut in the competition.
- •Valdas Dambrauskas has managed Sabah since the summer of 2024.
- •Manchester United's previous Champions League campaign in 2023-24 ended with the team finishing bottom of their group.
Manchester United marked their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring, followed by goals from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko before halftime. Lisandro Martínez added a fourth goal late in the match to secure the win for manager Michael Carrick's side.
By the numbers
Match Performance and Context
The victory provided a boost for Manchester United following a draw against Everton last Sunday. Manager Michael Carrick opted for minimal rotation in his starting lineup, handing Benjamin Sesko his first start of the season in the number nine position. The team's performance was characterized by a clinical approach, with Fernandes playing a key role in creating the opening goal after chasing down a high ball.
Sabah's European Debut
The match marked the Champions League debut for Sabah, a club that did not exist a decade ago. Under manager Valdas Dambrauskas, who took charge in the summer of 2024, the team achieved an unexpected title win in Azerbaijan last season. This performance followed a 2024-25 campaign where the club had finished 41 points behind the league leaders.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by France24 Sport, Guardian Sport.
