00:00All and far from the standards that they set under Sir Alex Ferguson when they last lifted this trophy.
00:06Just once in the last 12 seasons have they been in the last eight of this competition.
00:10After he's scored off the bench on Sunday.
00:13Luke Shaw is rested completely.
00:15Haram Maguire left on the United bench along with Marcus Rashford.
00:18With the title, he's also fresh from a hat-trick at the weekend.
00:22They will be the most likely to trouble.
00:30So off we go. An English record 26th Champions League campaign for Manchester United gets underway.
00:35They're in red.
00:37One of the few Manchester United players involved tonight who were involved the last time they played a Champions League
00:43tie three years ago.
00:45That's Mats Raui. This is Cunha.
00:47That's the first save that Stas Poketilov has reported.
00:52Well, they wanted the earlier shot, didn't they?
00:53The Man United fans from Musso Maserari, who's certainly not a goal-scoring defender.
00:57And Cunha a little bit, same with that effort.
01:01Goalkeeper's near post and it just doesn't really match his for European football.
01:06Maserari showing ambition, running into traffic.
01:11Menuh.
01:14Now Mbomo.
01:15His first taste of European club football.
01:18Maserari finds the side netting.
01:22In the title-winning campaign last time out, the move was made permanent.
01:30The boat went out for Manchester United.
01:32This is looking promising.
01:34Fired straight at Stas Poketilov.
01:37It is spotting the run of Bruno Fernandes.
01:48Paris.
01:51The pass that Sabah were looking for.
01:54It's played right into Manchester United's hands.
01:56Bruno Fernandes.
01:58Dorgou.
01:59Touchstone by Cunha.
02:0427 minutes on the clock and Manchester United have the breakthrough.
02:12Sabah will be kicking themselves the way they gave away possession.
02:18But Mateus Cunha has picked a fine time to get his first goal of the season.
02:23Manchester United 1, Sabah 0.
02:27He would love that, Mateus Cunha said it was a man who needed a goal.
02:30There's Paris with the awful giveaway.
02:35And at this level, he'll get punished a lot more often.
02:39And Cunha, well, I'd be grateful.
02:42Not too much.
02:43He just had to keep his eyes on the football.
02:45Concentrate, get enough purchase behind it.
02:47He actually goes into the ground.
02:48A little bit of luck.
02:49It bounces off and hits the goalkeeper in the chest.
02:51I mean, that could quite easily sometimes just bounce over the crossbar.
02:54But so close to the goal, actually comes off his arm as well.
02:57A little bit of goal kick, but he's exposed.
03:02Meynou.
03:04Tielemans back out to Dorgou.
03:07Manchester United pressure building.
03:08Szczesko scoops it wide of the Sabah goal.
03:14Paris.
03:18Mikels is there!
03:23What a chance to level it up for Joy Lance Mikels.
03:28Well, you said it, Bill.
03:29It's a lovely ball, isn't it, from Paris on the far side.
03:32Making amends for that error that led to the Man United goal.
03:35He's got to score.
03:36Absolutely got to come and power that header.
03:38Looks like he did with that challenge over Masraoui a few minutes earlier.
03:43Anything like the same amount of conviction, and that's 1-1.
03:47Well, from that distance, that's a terrible header.
04:04Tillamans.
04:07Dorgou needs no second invitation to get forward.
04:12Cunha, Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes.
04:16A beautifully worked second for Manchester United.
04:19And a great time to get it just before half-time.
04:26Manchester United's captain doubles their lead.
04:31And that feels like a big goal in this game.
04:37Here he's his goal, score number eight, Bruno Fernandes.
04:42Well, he's certainly not been anywhere near his best,
04:47or he hadn't been, had he?
04:48Up until this moment, Bruno Fernandes.
04:50Super play.
04:51Too slick.
04:52Too sharp.
04:53The movement, the running off the ball.
04:54The quality.
04:55That's a lovely reverse pass, isn't it, from Yuri Tielemans.
04:59Quite clearly got a shout from Bruno Fernandes.
05:01And if you don't track your runners, this is what happens.
05:08Boom-up.
05:10Szeszka.
05:12Goalkeeper Pogras.
05:14Szeszka rolls in a third.
05:23Goalkeeper.
05:24Goalkeeper.
05:25In just over two minutes.
05:31And Manchester United are well on the way to a willing start on their return to the UEFA Champions League.
05:43Well, that's how good things can run up.
05:45He's still got that chance.
05:48Missed opportunity more than anybody at half-time.
05:52Slow starters, perhaps, but what a strong finish.
05:56Just before the half-hour mark, Matthias Cunha gave Manchester United the lead.
06:03Swambina, an attacking player who places international football for Gabon, comes on.
06:08So it's one change apiece.
06:14Bomo.
06:19A little flick.
06:24Cunha denied a second.
06:26Effectively enough.
06:29Yeah, took a bit of a deflection, took some sting out of it.
06:31That's Man United.
06:39Bruno Fernandes.
06:43Couldn't afford to spill that one.
06:48Zexy.
06:49Cunha.
06:52Zexy.
06:54That was good.
06:55Yeah, nice in the change play.
06:57Nice in time.
06:57Mount Stalking, but Fernandes is not even listening to him.
07:01He's made up his mind, hasn't he?
07:03This is for me.
07:06It's over the top for Zexy.
07:08Tries the back heel.
07:09It's all over the place, and Martínez puts it in.
07:17As composure at the back deserted the Azerbaijani champions.
07:22So the Argentinian Martínez pounced.
07:24Proceeding so far.
07:27Michael Carrick, but he'd be pleased with that.
07:29Zexy nearly got himself on a short score sheet.
07:32Cheeky little back heel.
07:33Perhaps it was going wide in the post as a handball, isn't it, from one of the Sabah plays, I
07:37think.
07:39No, she came off with the leg, wasn't it, of the defender Aidan McCarthy.
07:44And there's a grateful Lissandra Martínez.
07:50Yeah, goalkeeper didn't know where he was here.
07:52Turned around a couple of times in between his legs.
07:54Pirouettes not once, but twice.
07:57And a nice easy tap in for the Argentine, who...
08:01Right place.
08:03On the spot.
08:04Yeah, frustrating for the goalkeeper.
08:06Could do nothing about it, really.
08:09Calm under pressure.
08:12This is Lepinitza.
08:13Pouache.
08:17Mikels.
08:19Well, it gave Laman something to think about.
08:22He played at this level before.
08:26Mikels.
08:27And over the top.
08:29Mumbina.
08:34Well, Mikels missed a glorious opportunity in the first half.
08:37That's an absolute peach of a cross.
08:39Could not have asked for a better delivery.
08:41Both A and Mumbina.
08:42And he's got to bury that.
08:45In the morning.
08:46And indeed on Saturday, with any kind of injury,
08:48and he can take a full squad into Manchester the derby at the weekend.
08:52Three years away from the Champions League
08:53and a winning return to the Champions League for Manchester.
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