Manchester United marked their return to the UEFA Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah FK in their opening league phase match at Old Trafford.
First-half goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko put the hosts in control before Lisandro Martinez added a fourth after the break. The win secured a successful start for the Premier League side, who were back in Europe's top competition following a two-year absence.
Sabah FK had earned their place in the Champions League by winning both the Azerbaijani league championship and the domestic cup. The visitors held out for nearly 30 minutes in Manchester before the home team broke through.
Manchester United seized the lead in the 27th minute after winning possession in midfield. The ball was shifted out to Patrick Dorgu on the left wing, and the full-back delivered a low cross into the penalty box for Matheus Cunha to tap in from a few yards out.
Reporting on the match for Sport.pl, journalist Bartosz Naus noted that Manchester United executed an impressive attack while the Sabah defenders were simply too slow to react effectively.
Sabah created a chance to equalize in the 36th minute when Joy-Lance Mickels found space inside the area. However, the forward wasted the opportunity by heading wide of the post.
First half dominance
The hosts doubled their lead in the 42nd minute through captain Bruno Fernandes. Youri Tielemans received the ball inside the penalty area from Cunha, turned quickly, and drove a pass across the six-yard box for the Portuguese midfielder to finish comfortably.
Sabah almost fell further behind shortly after when Polish defender Tymoteusz Puchacz lost the ball to Tielemans while advancing forward. Puchacz went down feeling he was fouled, but the referee allowed play to continue as United launched a counter-attack down the right flank before Sabah cleared the ball.
Manchester United scored their third goal in the 45th minute. Bryan Mbeumo slipped a pass through to Benjamin Sesko despite Puchacz tracking the run. Sesko broke clean through on goal, rounded goalkeeper Pokatilov, and slotted the ball into the net to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage at half-time.
Second half opportunities
For Puchacz, playing at Old Trafford marked the fulfillment of a personal dream. The Polish international left-back had struggled during earlier spells in Germany and underwent multiple loan moves, nearly returning to the Polish Ekstraklasa before joining Sabah in September 2025.
Early in the second half, Noussair Mazraoui tried to cut inside from the right wing to shoot for United. Puchacz tracked the Moroccan defender and threw himself toward the ball in a desperate attempt to block the effort, which ultimately flew far off target.
Puchacz came close to scoring for the Baku club in the 63rd minute after Dorgu was shown a yellow card for a foul on Kaheem Parris. Standing over a free kick roughly 20 meters from goal, Puchacz unleashed a powerful strike that narrowly missed the top corner of the net guarded by Senne Lammens.
Final goal and starting lineups
Lisandro Martinez sealed the 4-0 scoreline in the 68th minute. Second-half substitute Joshua Zirkzee attempted a backheel shot inside the area, and after the ball ricocheted off defenders and goalkeeper Pokatilov, the Argentine defender reacted quickest to force the ball home from close range.
United continued to push forward late in the game, with young winger Shea Lacey attempting to dribble past Puchacz in the 82nd minute. The Polish full-back held off the challenge, and when Lacey fell to the ground, Puchacz offered a clear gesture telling his opponent to get back on his feet.
Manchester United started Senne Lammens in goal behind a defense of Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu. Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans played in central midfield, with Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha operating behind striker Benjamin Sesko.
Sabah FK lined up with goalkeeper Pokatilov behind defenders Zedadka, McCarthy, Dasdemirov and Tymoteusz Puchacz. Rakhmonaliev and Lepinjica anchored the midfield, with Simic, Nwachukwu and Kaheem Parris supporting main striker Joy-Lance Mickels.
