Man Utd vs Sabah Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
Manchester United are back in the UEFA Champions League as The Red Devils begin their league phase against Azeri minnows Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Man Utd preview: Back in Europe
Mid-way through last season, Michael Carrick replaced former Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim and he led The Red Devils to a third place finish in the Premier League – qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
They have been left frustrated at the start of this season, though, with a 2-0 loss to newly-promoted Hull City and a 2-2 draw away at Everton sandwiching a come from behind defeat of Ipswich Town at Old Trafford in the Premier League thus far.
Sabah preview: Toppling Qarabag in Azerbaijan
Remarkably, Qarabag were beaten to the Azeri Premier League title for the first time in 15 years last season as Sabah managed to topple their fellow Baku giants – despite Qarabag reaching the knockout play-off round of this competition.
Seeking to emulate their compatriots, Sabah made it past The New Saints, Kuopion Palloseura, Aarhus and then Hapoel Be’er Sheva in qualification over the summer – beginning their UEFA Champions League campaign on July 7.
Man Utd team news: Rashford a doubt
England international forward Marcus Rashford was forced off through injury against Everton at the weekend and Michael Carrick confirmed after the game that he was ‘feeling a bit of something’ and so is a doubt for this one. United may well rotate a couple of positions here, too, particularly in defence and in midfield due to the lightness of their depth.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Mainoo, Santos; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Unavailable: De Ligt (Fitness), Ugarte (Injured), Baleba (Injured), Diallo (Injured)
Questionable: Heaton (Injured), Rashford (Injured)
Sabah team news: Fully fit
As they head off on a famous trip to Manchester, Lithuanian boss Valdas Dambrauskas does not appear to have any injury concerns or suspension issues with a fully fit and available squad.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Pokatilov; Solvet, Dashdamirov, Puchacz, Zedadka; Rakhmonaliev, Isaev, Lepinjica, Parris; Mickels, Simic
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Man Utd vs Sabah prediction
In qualification, Sabah stumbled to a 2-1 win in Oswestry against TNS before a more comfortable win in Finland against KuPS but then defeats to both Aarhus and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in their away legs, albeit the latter was played at a neutral venue. Manchester United have struggled on the road but have shown they can flex their attacking muscle at home with their 5-2 defeat of Ipswich and so a comfortable home win is to be expected for Carrick’s United back in Europe.
Man Utd vs Sabah Tip: Man Utd to win -2 handicap
