Manchester United vs Sabah: predicted line-ups for Champions League opener

United return to the Champions League after three seasons, while Sabah prepare for a historic first appearance

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Manchester United vs Sabah: predicted line-ups for Champions League opener

10.09.26 15:00 Champions League

Manchester United

Sabah FK

Manchester United return to Champions League action at Old Trafford on Thursday against Sabah, who will make their first appearance in the main phase.

Manchester United are finally back on European football’s biggest stage. The Red Devils host Sabah on Thursday, September 10 at 21:00 French time in their opening league-phase match of the Champions League. Michael Carrick is expected to select an attack-minded side as United look to avoid an upset against the Azerbaijani champions at Old Trafford.

Our 300th match in Europe's top competition is here! 😍✨
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 10, 2026

Senne Lammens is expected to start in goal, behind Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw. Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans should form the midfield base, with Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford supporting Matheus Cunha in attack.

Predicted Manchester United vs Sabah line-ups

Manchester United: Lammens — Dalot — Maguire — L. Martínez — Shaw — Mainoo — Tielemans — Mbeumo — B. Fernandes — Rashford — M. Cunha.

Sabah: Pokatilov — Zedadka — Dashdemirov — Solve — Pukhach — Lepinica — Rahmonaliyev — Nwachukwu — Simić — Parris — Mikkels.

Manchester United return after three seasons away

This will be United’s first Champions League appearance since the 2023-24 season. Their most recent campaign ended badly as they finished bottom of a group with only four points, behind Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. United recorded just one win and one draw alongside four defeats, scoring 12 goals and conceding 15.

After missing the following two editions, the three-time European champions qualified for 2026-27 by finishing third in the Premier League last season. Manchester United’s full Champions League schedule includes much tougher tests later against Atlético Madrid, Roma, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.

Historic Sabah debut as Bruno Fernandes earns Ballon d’Or nomination

The contrast in European experience could hardly be greater. Founded only in 2017, Sabah will play the first main-phase Champions League match in their history at Old Trafford. The Masazir club won the Azerbaijani league for the first time in 2025-26 and then came through four qualifying rounds to join the competition’s 36-team league phase.

For United, Bruno Fernandes will be one of the key men to watch. The Portugal international is among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after recording 13 goals and 25 assists in 51 matches during the 2025-26 season. In his second Ballon d’Or nomination, United’s captain will now look to lead the club to a winning return to Europe’s elite competition.