Manchester United made a winning return to the Champions League on Thursday, sweeping aside Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford in a comfortable outing ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute, converting Patrick Dorgu’s cross for his first goal of the season. Captain Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez then completed the rout as Michael Carrick’s side took control of the game.
Sabah briefly threatened to expose United’s defensive weaknesses when Joy-Lance Mickels found himself unmarked at the back post, but the forward headed wide from less than five yards.
United responded strongly before half-time. Youri Tielemans set up Fernandes, while Sesko raced onto Bryan Mbeumo’s through ball, rounded goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov and calmly finished to give the hosts a commanding advantage.
Martinez added the fourth midway through the second half after a loose ball ricocheted off Pokatilov and a defender following a backheel from substitute Joshua Zirkzee.
With the result effectively secured, Carrick was able to introduce youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their first Champions League appearances, preserving key players ahead of the weekend derby.
Elsewhere, Como produced one of the night’s biggest surprises on their European debut, defeating RB Leipzig 4-1 in northern Italy.
Cesc Fabregas’s side established control through Martin Baturina, Tasos Douvikas and Assane Diao before Leipzig pulled one back through Serbia midfielder Andrija Maksimovic. Maximo Perrone restored Como’s three-goal advantage late on.
Bayern Munich also recorded a convincing victory but had to work before eventually defeating Bodo/Glimt 5-0.
Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock shortly after half-time before Harry Kane headed in from Michael Olise’s free-kick. Alphonso Davies then scored after an Olise corner was only partially cleared.
Olise joined the scoring with seven minutes remaining, producing a fine finish before completing his brace after Bodo/Glimt were reduced to 10 men following Odin Bjortuft’s dismissal.
Kane and Olise both entered the night after being nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Lens also staged a dramatic comeback, recovering from two setbacks to beat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2. Danijel Sturm twice put the Czech side ahead, but Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar struck in injury time to secure victory for Lens.
The other two fixtures ended level, with Fenerbahce drawing 1-1 with Roma and PSV Eindhoven sharing the same scoreline with Shakhtar Donetsk.
