Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United open their Champions League campaign against Sabah and there is huge pressure on Michael Carrick’s side to deliver victory.
The 2026/27 season will be the first time that Manchester United compete in the new format of the UEFA Champions League.
United have already discovered their eight group phase opponents through last month’s draw, and now the objective is to try and secure a top-eight finish and guarantee passage to the round of 16.
Up first for United is a clash against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK. United’s squad value vs Sabah outlines the Red Devils as clear favourites. Results in the competition so far suggest that has to be translated into three points.
Michael Carrick press conference with Bryan Mbeumo
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Champions League goliaths are all winning
All four other Premier League sides have won their opening Champions League game this week, with Liverpool beating Atletico Madrid and Arsenal beating Napoli.
Across all 12 Champions League matches played so far, incredibly, the favourites have won every single match.
Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa
AEK 1-0 LASK
Porto 0-2 Manchester City
Real Madrid 2-1 Inter
Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal
Lille 2-3 Real Betis
Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord
VFB Stuttgart 3-1 Viking
Napoli 0-1 Arsenal
Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid
PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava
Sporting 3-1 Galatasaray
Every established European giant has managed to avoid an upset, and that piles pressure onto United ahead of their Sabah clash.
United are strong favourites against Sabah, and anything other than three points picked up at Old Trafford would create a disastrous narrative for Carrick.
Not only because United will be behind their rivals, but also because all media attention will be on the Red Devils with every other European side avoiding a banana skin.
Sabah clash sets the tone for Man Utd’s Champions League campaign
Carrick refused to complain about scheduling in his pre-match press conference, but the truth is that United have just two days of rest after facing Sabah before the Manchester derby.
As a result, Carrick is expected to rotate his United side against Sabah.
READ MORE: Five interesting facts ahead of Man Utd’s Champions League opener against Sabah
But United need to win, and win big to set the tone for their European campaign. This is the easiest fixture United will have in Europe all season, so there is simply no other option than to pick up three valuable points.
Next up is a trip to face Atletico Madrid, so United could do with three points in the bag before that difficult away visit.