League Stage: Today’s UEFA Champions League Fixtures & Previews

Manchester United are set to kick off their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with an emphatic victory against Azerbaijani side Sabah on Thursday night. This will be United's first appearance in the competition since 2025-26, marking their 26th overall campaign in European football. They will also face Atletico Madrid, Como, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Villarreal in the league phase.

After a 2-2 draw with Everton, United sits in 11th place in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Manchester City. Manager Carrick is expected to shake up his lineup ahead of the Manchester derby against Manchester City this Sunday, with potential introductions of Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Andrey Santos, and Benjamin Sesko.

United's defensive vulnerabilities might prevent a clean sheet, but they are expected to start the tournament on a winning note.

In a separate fixture, Bayern Munich will host Bodo/Glimt at the Allianz Arena, aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Bayern has won three domestic games in a row, including a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup. They should be favored to secure another victory on Thursday, bolstered by their impressive record at home this season. The hosts have only lost once on home turf this year, collecting 15 wins and only two draws.

Meanwhile, debutants Como will face RB Leipzig in their Champions League debut on Thursday evening. The Italian club, led by Cesc Fabregas, has just secured a top-four finish in Serie A after a club-record fourth-place finish last season. Their squad boasts attacking talent, including Nico Paz and Tasos Douvikas, and they have a league-high 19 clean sheets from last term. Despite Leipzig's experience in the competition, Como's development under Fabregas could make them a challenging opponent.