Manchester United vs Sabah: Can Carricks team be victorious on their return to the Champions League?

Manchester United are set to play their first-ever Champions League phase match this Thursday, welcoming Azerbaijani side Sabah to Old Trafford.

This is United’s first Champions League campaign in three seasons, but it is a first for their opponents, with Sabah entering this competition for the first time.

For the Red Devils, their 2026/27 European campaign does mark a significant record for an English team, becoming the first team to record 26 Champions League seasons.

The last time they competed was under Erik Ten Hag back in 2023/24, when they were knocked out in a group stage containing Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.

After such miserable UCL performances over the last decade, Michael Carrick will be under huge pressure to try and deliver a positive outcome in Europe this season.

The English coach hasn’t helped himself so far, though, with his side taking just four points from the opening three games that saw them play two newly promoted sides in Ipswich and Hull, and a lacklustre Everton team.

They will be hoping to bounce back with a win against Sabah, but the Azerbaijani outfit are not a team to underestimate given their form over the last year.

Sabah are currently reigning champions in Azerbaijan, beating Qarabag to the title by nine points last year.

Valdas Dambrauskas’ side, who have already played 8 times so far in the UCL qualifying rounds, come into this one in superb form, winning three from three and sit top of the Azerbaijani Premier League.

The Owls will be one of four teams that will be making their Champions League debuts this week, and will be coming in with confidence, especially with United’s defensive problems. 

After scoring eight with no reply in their three league games so far, Sabah could make a dent in the United defence also, with the Red Devils conceding two goals in their first three games this season; a first in 50 years.

TEAM NEWS

Michael Carrick still has a few ongoing injuries, with new signing Carlos Baleba still sidelined after picking up a knock in pre-season with Brighton.

Manuel Ugarte is still out and won’t be making an appearance at Old Trafford until at least 2027, with Amad Diallo also set to be out again as he is still recovering from an ankle injury.

A new issue though, has come in the form of Marcus Rashford, after the returnee was suspected to have picked up a possible knock against Everton, which is why he was substituted at Goodison Park.

However, with the Manchester Derby coming up on Sunday, Michael Carrick is expected to make several changes coming into this midweek fixture.

Benjamin Sesko and Leny Yoro are set to come in for their first start of the season, while Noussair Mazraoui and Andrey Santos could return to the starting line-up after being in the XI that lost to Hull on the opening day.

As for Sabah, they have a fully fit squad that they can travel to Old Trafford with, as they look to cause another upset at Old Trafford.

Joy-Lance Mickels should start up-top for the Azerbaijani side, and has scored eight goals in 12 competitive games so far, with the 32-year old in outstanding form so far this campaign.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Heaven, Mazraoui, Santos, Tielemans, Mbuemo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko

Sabah XI: Pokatilov, Zedadka, Puchacz, Dasdamirov, Solvet, Rakhmonaliev, Lepnjica, Nwachukwu, Isaev, Simic, Mickels