Overview
- Manchester United return to the Champions League group stage on Thursday when they host Azerbaijan champions Sabah at Old Trafford in their first league-phase match since 2023.
- United face notable absences with Manuel Ugarte ruled out and Amad, Carlos Baleba and Matthijs de Ligt sidelined while Marcus Rashford is being assessed after a recent withdrawal.
- Sabah are making their debut in the Champions League league phase after rapid progress since their 2017 founding and are led by Valdas Dambrauskas, who previously worked with Manchester United Soccer Schools and has an unusual backstory that includes appearing on a TV quiz show early in his career.
- Bookmakers make United heavy favourites but Paddy Power is running a limited new-customer 50/1 enhanced-odds sign-up offer that requires promo code YFBDIE, a minimum £5 deposit via eligible methods and a maximum £1 qualifying bet with winnings paid partly in cash and partly as free-bet builders valid for 30 days.
- The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK and is likely to prompt rotation before Sunday’s Manchester derby, so observers will watch United’s defensive form, player fitness updates and how the club handles the quick fixture turnarounds.