Manchester United returns to the Champions League for the first time since December 2023 on Thursday, welcoming tournament newcomer Sabah FK to Old Trafford. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
United’s previous campaign ended with a last-place finish in a group featuring Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. After failing to qualify in each of the next two seasons, the club is back in Europe’s top competition under Michael Carrick, who helped United lift the trophy as a player in 2008.
Carrick’s team has collected four points in its first three Premier League matches, mixing a promising attack with recurring defensive issues. United followed a season-opening 2-0 loss at Hull City with a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, as Bruno Fernandes recorded a hat trick and Bryan Mbeumo scored his first league goal of the new campaign.
United then surrendered another two goals during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Everton. Mbeumo broke the deadlock shortly after halftime, and Benjamin Šeško restored the lead in the 88th minute after Everton had equalized. The advantage lasted only a few minutes before Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stoppage-time equalizer.
United has now conceded twice in all three league fixtures. Carrick must find a better defensive balance Thursday while also preparing for a quick turnaround, with Manchester City visiting Old Trafford for the derby on Sunday.
Sabah arrives with little experience at this level but palpable momentum. Founded in 2017, the Azerbaijani club is the youngest team ever to reach the Champions League league phase or group stage. Its rapid ascent continued last season when it won the first league championship in club history and retained the Azerbaijan Cup to complete a domestic double.
The Owls carried that success into Champions League qualifying, winning six of eight matches and scoring in every one. They eliminated The New Saints and KuPS before overcoming first-leg deficits against Aarhus and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
The club’s playoff victory over Hapoel was particularly dramatic. Sabah entered the second leg trailing 2-1 on aggregate and twice fell behind during the return match in Baku. A 94th-minute goal from Tellur Mutallimov forced extra time before two more goals completed a 5-2 victory and sent Sabah through 6-4 on aggregate.
Joy-Lance Mickels and Veljko Simić headline an attack that produced 18 goals during qualifying. Simić scored six of them, while Mickels contributed four before recording a hat trick in Sabah’s 5-0 victory over Zira in its most recent domestic match.
Thursday’s matchup also brings Sabah manager Valdas Dambrauskas back to a meaningful location from the beginning of his coaching career. Dambrauskas moved from Lithuania to England more than two decades ago and received one of his earliest opportunities through Manchester United Soccer Schools. He now returns to Old Trafford as a Champions League head coach for the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Manchester United vs. Sabah FK Odds Today
Manchester United enters Thursday’s match as one of the largest favorites on the Champions League slate:
- Manchester United (-1100)
- Draw (+1100)
- Sabah FK (+2500)
Best Bet for Manchester United vs. Sabah FK
Both Teams to Score – Yes (-105): United is expected to control this match, but its early defensive performances provide little reason to trust the home side to win with a clean sheet. Carrick’s team has looked vulnerable in transition, struggled to protect leads and allowed opponents to create dangerous chances even when United has controlled the majority of possession.
Sabah is also unlikely to approach its Champions League debut simply hoping to limit the damage. Dambrauskas has built a bold, offense-minded team that carried its domestic success into four rounds of European qualifying.
The occasion should only add to Sabah’s energy. The youngest club ever to reach this stage will play its first Champions League match at one of the sport’s most iconic venues, led by a manager whose early coaching career included time with the organization. Dambrauskas and his players should arrive motivated to make their debut memorable rather than spending the entire night protecting their own penalty area.
Sabah does not need to compete evenly with United for this wager to hit. One well-timed counterattack, set piece or defensive mistake could be enough, while United’s talent advantage should produce opportunities throughout the match at the other end.
- Best Bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-105)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
The enormous difference in moneyline prices has done little to discourage bettors from backing Manchester United:
- Manchester United accounts for 98% of all moneyline tickets and 97.62% of the handle.
- Sabah FK has attracted 1.59% of the bets and 1.73% of the money.
- The draw has pulled in 0.42% of the tickets and 0.65% of the handle.
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props
Fernandes and Mbeumo occupy all five places among Thursday’s most-bet player props:
- Bruno Fernandes – To Score or Assist
- Bruno Fernandes – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Bryan Mbeumo – Anytime Goalscorer
- Bruno Fernandes – Over 1.5 Shots on Target
- Bryan Mbeumo – Over 1.5 Shots on Target
Manchester United vs. Sabah FK Match Info
- 📍 Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
- 📅 Date: Thursday, September 10
- ⏰ Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: Paramount+
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