PARIS: Manchester United celebrated their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Sabah on Thursday, as Cesc Fabregas’s Como impressed on their debut in Europe’s premier club competition.
Harry Kane and Michael Olise, with a brace, both scored in the week that they were nominated for the Ballon d’Or as Bayern Munich were made to work before Bodo/Glimt’s second-half collapse in a 5-0 rout.
Matheus Cunha scored his first goal of the season, while captain Bruno Fernandes, forward Benjamin Sesko and centre-back Lisandro Martinez also found the net on a comfortable night for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
“I think it was perfect for everyone, especially our fans,” Sesko told TNT Sports. “It means a lot to them, especially when they see so many goals. I think it was great for us in general to give us more motivation for the upcoming games.”
There was one moment of concern after Cunha had given Michael Carrick’s team a 27th-minute lead from Patrick Dorgu’s cross, as United’s defensive frailties almost came back to haunt them.
But Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide for the Champions League debutants when free at the back post from less than five yards out.
The Azerbaijanis wilted at the end of the first period as Youri Tielemans teed up Fernandes and then Sesko ran onto Bryan Mbeumo’s through ball before rounding goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov and sliding the ball home.
Midway through the second half, Martinez pounced on a bobbling ball that ricocheted off Pokatilov and a defender from substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s backheel as United went into cruise control.
Carrick even had the luxury of bringing on youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League bows as he sought to rest legs ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
“I think the confidence boost is definitely big. It’s important to recover well and focus on the derby,” added Sesko.
Goals from Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina, Greece forward Tasos Douvikas and Senegal’s Assane Diao put Como in control against RB Leipzig.
Serbia midfielder Andrija Maksimovic pulled a goal back for Leipzig before Maximo Perrone sealed a 4-1 victory late on a dream night in northern Italy.
“It was a historic evening for the club and the fans, who will still be talking about it in 10 years time,” Fabregas told reporters. “That’s the beauty of football, I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did.”
EIGHT IN A ROW FOR KANE
Kane scored for the eighth Champions League game in a row as he powered home a header from Olise’s free-kick, with Bayern eventually overcoming a spirited Bodo/Glimt.
Jamal Musiala had given them the lead shortly after a goalless first half, and after Kane’s goal, Alphonso Davies shot into the bottom corner when Olise’s corner was only half cleared.
It was Musiala’s first goal since he collapsed on the pitch during pre-season due to a neurological condition.
“Scoring a goal — pure happiness,” Musiala told DAZN. “I just want to perform well again… I just want to get back to my level step by step, playing with a sense of ease, joy, and fun on the pitch.”
Olise got in on the act with a sumptuous finish seven minutes from time before Odin Bjortuft was dismissed for the Norwegians.
Olise then completed the rout with his second.
Meanwhile, RC Lens twice came from behind to beat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2 with injury-time goals from Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar.
Danijel Sturm had twice given Slavia the lead, firstly just after Mikulas Konecny was dismissed and then with just two minutes remaining, but the Czechs were unable to hold on.
Earlier on Thursday, there were 1-1 draws between Fenerbahce and AS Roma, and between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal quit after the match in Istanbul, during which he was targeted by a bottle thrown from the crowd.
“I quit and I’m not coming back,” the 65-year-old, who was only hired in June, said on beIN Sports Turkey after the game.
However, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim said that Kartal would be going nowhere.
“Ismail Kartal is at the start of his mission. We support him,” said Yildirim.
The Istanbul club said on social media that the person who had thrown a bottle at Kartal had been identified and banned from the stadium.
Roma took the lead in Istanbul in the 39th minute when Donyell Malen rolled a pass to Bryan Cristante who beat Ederson with a bouncing finish.
It was Cristante’s first goal in the Champions League proper, 15 years since making his debut in the competition as a 16-year-old for AC Milan.
Fenerbahce, back in the Champions League after an 18-year absence, rallied though and equalised three minutes after halftime when Mason Greenwood slipped a pass through to Archie Brown, who clipped a finish over Mile Svilar.
The hosts almost won it late on when Nathan Ake headed against the Roma crossbar.
In Netherlands, PSV avoided a sixth successive match-day one defeat in the competition as they drew at home to Shakhtar.
The Dutch club trailed at halftime after Gleiker Mendoza cut in from wide and sent a stunning low shot beyond the dive of Matej Kovar. However, Sergino Dest’s deft finish soon after the break ensured they began with a point.
Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026
