Manchester United return to the UEFA Champions League on Thursday, 10 September 2026, when they host Azerbaijani debutants Sabah Baku at Old Trafford in the opening round of the league phase. Mahamad Sangare, presenter of the sports debate programme La VAR on Burkina Info TV, expects Michael Carrick’s side to win and has highlighted odds of 1.40 for more than 2.5 goals in the match.
United are back in Europe’s leading club competition for the first time since 2023 after finishing third in the Premier League last season. Carrick is now in charge, but his team’s immediate form has been uneven.
The Red Devils opened the new campaign with a defeat at Hull City before responding with a 5-2 home victory over Ipswich. They then surrendered a lead twice against Everton last weekend, drawing 2-2 after Maitland-Niles scored an equaliser in the 96th minute. Marcus Rashford impressed in that match but was substituted after feeling discomfort.
Two years ago, Manchester United missed out on Champions League qualification after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Their third-place league finish last season secured their return to the continent’s elite competition.
Sabah Baku provide a very different story. Founded in 2017, the club are appearing in the Champions League for the first time and had to negotiate four qualifying rounds to reach the league phase. They defeated The New Saints of Wales 4-1 on aggregate, Finland’s KuPS 3-0 on aggregate, and Aarhus of Denmark after recovering from a 2-1 first-leg defeat to win the return 4-0.
In the play-offs, Sabah lost 2-1 away to Hapoel Beer Sheva but won the second leg 5-2 after extra time. Their Lithuanian manager Valdas Dambrauskas has guided the young club to the top of Azerbaijani football and into the Champions League.
Sabah won the Azerbaijani championship last season ahead of Qarabag, who reached the last 16 of the Champions League last term. They are also top of the domestic table after three matches this season, despite having a game in hand. Araz were beaten 1-0 before Sabah thrashed Zira 5-0.
Simic has been Sabah’s leading scorer during the qualifying campaign, with six goals, and scored again against Zira. Joy-Lance Mickels has contributed four goals and one assist, including a hat-trick in the same league victory. Aliyev, who scored six times in the league last season, has been out since June and is unlikely to feature at Old Trafford.
Manchester United may be without Baleba, who has an ankle problem, while De Ligt, Amad Diallo, Heaton and Ugarte are also unavailable. Diallo was injured during pre-season, while De Ligt is a long-term absentee.
Mainoo, who has one Premier League assist this season, and Bruno Fernandes, with three goals and one assist, are expected to be available. United can also call on Mbeumo, who has scored twice, Sesko, who has one goal, and Matheus Cunha, who has supplied one assist. Rashford’s return from a successful loan spell at Barcelona appears to have earned Carrick’s trust.
Tielemans, signed from Aston Villa, and Audrey Santos of Chelsea are fit. United’s summer departures included Casemiro, who joined Inter Miami, Sancho, who is without a club, and Højlund, who moved to Napoli. Goalkeeper Bay?nd?r joined Celta de Vigo on loan.
Aaron Malouda left Sabah for Basel during the summer, while Younes Lachaa, Nwachukwu of Sheffield United and Brazilian Queiroz of Zenit joined the Azerbaijani club.
The fixture will be the first meeting between Manchester United and Sabah FK.
United have won the Champions League three times, while Sabah are making their debut. The Manchester club have conceded six goals in three Premier League matches and won their only home game, the 5-2 success against Ipswich.
Sangare’s recommended selections are a Manchester United win at odds of 1.145, both teams not to score at 1.82, Manchester United to score in the first half at 1.23 and more than 2.5 goals at 1.40. He also lists a first-half United victory at 1.44.
His assessment is that Sabah, the competition’s outsiders, should be defeated at Old Trafford, while United’s strength in attack and new signings could make an early impact. The odds are subject to change.