Manchester United marked their return to the Champions League with a convincing 4-0 victory over Sabah on Thursday, while Cesc Fabregas’s Como enjoyed an impressive debut in Europe’s premier club competition with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig.
At Old Trafford, Matheus Cunha opened the scoring for Michael Carrick’s side in the 27th minute, finishing from Patrick Dorgu’s cross.
Sabah almost levelled shortly afterwards when Joy-Lance Mickels found himself unmarked at the back post, but the forward headed wide from close range.
United took control before half-time, with captain Bruno Fernandes converting after being set up by Youri Tielemans before Benjamin Sesko added a third after running on to Bryan Mbeumo’s through ball.
Lisandro Martinez completed the scoring midway through the second half, pouncing on a loose ball following a ricochet involving goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov and a defender.
Carrick was then able to introduce youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League debuts as United comfortably saw out the remainder of the match.
The victory provided a timely boost ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, with Sesko saying the result would give the team added confidence.
“I think the confidence boost is definitely big. It’s important to recover good and focus on the derby,” Sesko told TNT Sports.
Elsewhere, Como produced one of the biggest results of the night on their European debut, defeating Leipzig 4-1.
Martin Baturina, Tasos Douvikas and Assane Diao put the Italian side in command before Andrija Maksimovic pulled one back for Leipzig.
Maximo Perrone restored Como’s three-goal advantage late in the game to complete a memorable night for Fabregas’s side.
Bayern Munich were also made to work before eventually recording a 5-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt.
Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock shortly after half-time before Harry Kane extended his remarkable scoring run in the competition to eight consecutive Champions League games with a powerful header from Michael Olise’s free-kick.
Alphonso Davies then added a third after Olise’s corner was only partially cleared, before Olise scored twice late in the match to complete the rout. Bodo/Glimt were reduced to 10 men after Odin Bjortuft was sent off.
Lens twice came from behind to defeat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2, with Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar scoring in stoppage time.
Danijel Sturm twice put Slavia ahead, but the Czech side were unable to hold on after Mikulas Konecny was dismissed.
The other matches produced draws, with Fenerbahce and Roma playing out a 1-1 draw, while PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk also shared the points after a 1-1 stalemate.
