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UEFA Champions League: Manchester United begins campaign

Updated 31 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-11 07:18 UTC → 2026-09-11 15:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The UEFA Champions League league phase has commenced under a new 36-team format, where clubs play eight matches against different opponents. The top eight teams advance directly to the knockout stage, while those ranked 9 to 24 enter playoffs. Manchester United, returning to the competition after a three-season absence under manager Michael Carrick, opened its 2026/27 campaign at Old Trafford with a 4-0 victory against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK. The match was decided by goals from Matheus Cunha (27’), Bruno Fernandes (42’), Benjamin Sesko (45’), and Lisandro Martínez (68’). Cunha’s opening goal followed a cross from Patrick Dorgu. The match also featured the introduction of youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey. Following the match, Carrick praised the team’s defensive solidity and attacking transitions, specifically highlighting Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo completed 81 passes during his 64 minutes on the pitch—the most by an Englishman for the club in a Champions League match since Carrick in 2014. Carrick described Mainoo as a ‘fantastic player’ who has a ‘massive influence’ on the team. Benjamin Sesko, who has now scored twice in two matches, noted that the victory provided “significant motivation” ahead of the upcoming Manchester derby. In addition to the competitive momentum, the victory secures a performance bonus of approximately £1.8 million for Manchester United. Sabah FK, making its historic debut as the youngest club ever to reach this stage under manager Valdas Dambrauskas, fielded a starting eleven consisting of players from 11 different nationalities. Despite the defeat, player Tymoteusz Puchacz noted the experience serves as a “significant lesson” for the team. Other notable opening round results include Bayern Munich’s 5-0 victory against Bodø/Glimt, Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Inter Milan, and Como securing their first-ever Champions League win with a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig.

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