Manchester United Dominate Sabah 4-0 in Champions League Return

Manchester United reasserted themselves on Europe’s premier stage with a commanding 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah in their first Champions League match in three years. The win marked a strong return to competition for the three-time winners, who established a dominant three-goal lead before halftime.

Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko put the hosts in control by the break. Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute, tapping in a low cross from Patrick Dorgu after a slow start that prompted minor groans from the Old Trafford crowd. Fernandes, currently a candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, doubled the lead with a clinical finish following a fluid team move. Sesko sealed the first-half dominance on the stroke of halftime, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home from a narrow angle.

United’s defense faced a moment of anxiety when Kaheem Parris delivered a precise cross for Joy-Lance Mickels, but the visitor missed a clear header opportunity. In the second half, the pace slowed significantly, and Lisandro Martinez added the fourth goal late in the game, tapping in from close range after a scramble following a corner kick.

Sabah had a late chance to pull one back when Parris shot low across the goal, but he failed to test the keeper. Manager Michael Carrick utilized all five permitted substitutions with more than 20 minutes remaining, rotating key players ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby against their city rivals.

Despite the decisive result, the performance highlighted ongoing concerns. United’s modest haul of four points from their first three Premier League fixtures suggests vulnerabilities that could be exploited when the local rivalry resumes this weekend.