Manchester United returned to the Champions League after a two-year absence with a comfortable 4-0 win over debutants Sabah at Old Trafford, easing some of the sting from Sunday's late Premier League draw at Everton ahead of Sunday's derby against Manchester City. Manager Michael Carrick made minimal changes to his side, handing Benjamin Sesko his first start of the season up front, and the team delivered a controlled, largely wobble-free performance markedly different from United's chaotic previous Champions League campaign under Erik ten Hag, which ended bottom of their group.

Matheus Cunha opened the scoring midway through the first half after Bruno Fernandes kept a hopeful high ball in play, before Fernandes and Sesko added two further goals in quick succession to put United 3-0 up by half-time. Lisandro Martínez completed the scoring late on. Sabah, an Azerbaijani club formed less than a decade ago and unexpected champions of their domestic league last season under manager Valdas Dambrauskas, played without fear in a 4-3-3 and created a good chance through Joy-Lance Mickels, but were ultimately outclassed by United's clinical finishing.