Manchester United Return to Champions League Against Sabah, First Since December 2023

Manchester United return to the Champions League tonight against Azerbaijani side Sabah at Old Trafford, marking their first appearance in the competition since December 2023.

United's last Champions League campaign ended in the group stage of 2023-24, finishing bottom of a group that included Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen, before missing out on qualification for the following two seasons entirely. Their return under head coach Michael Carrick comes off the back of a strong turnaround, with United finishing third in the Premier League last season after Carrick's mid-season appointment in January, picking up 39 points from 17 matches with 12 wins, three draws and just two defeats.

The clash against Sabah, making their Champions League debut, kicks off United's eighth European campaign since 2013-14, with the schedule also featuring away trips to Atletico Madrid and Como, plus a home meeting with Bayern Munich on matchday seven. A win tonight would provide the perfect start as United look to re-establish themselves among Europe's elite after a difficult few seasons on the continental stage.