Lisandro Martínez overjoyed as Manchester United return to Champions League with 4-0 win over Sabah

Lisandro Martínez could not hide his joy after scoring his first home goal in the Champions League, as Manchester United kicked off their campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah. The 28-year-old Argentine center-back told MUTV and CBS Sports that it was one of the most memorable moments of his career. "I am the happiest person in the world right now. Scoring at Old Trafford in our first Champions League game of the season is unbelievable. The whole team played a totally dominant 90 minutes. We won every duel, controlled the tempo, and kept a clean sheet — that's the foundation for the rest of the season," Martínez said. The match was one-sided. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the 11th minute from a quick combination. New signings Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko each found the net before Martínez sealed the 4-0 win with a header from a set piece. It was the Argentine's first home goal in European competition, and United's first goal in the elite tournament since their return after several seasons away. Tactically, United showed physical dominance and control. According to rules expert Samuel Hernandez (The Referee's Eye), the hosts won most duels, controlled the tempo, and gave Sabah no chances. However, it should be noted that the opponent was only a team from Azerbaijan, so the big win does not yet confirm true quality against stronger sides. "This was our first clean sheet of the season across all competitions. That's important for morale, but we know we have to keep improving. Tomorrow we'll enjoy a bit, but then we have to focus on the derby against Manchester City. That's a completely different challenge," Martínez emphasized. Martínez's goal also impressed the media. On CBS Sports, commentators compared his finish to the 'baby shark' tune — a humorous detail that made Martínez laugh during his post-match interview. The blend of professional joy and relaxed dressing-room atmosphere was seen as a positive signal of team spirit ahead of the Manchester derby. However, analysts caution that the win over Sabah could be inflated due to the weak opponent. Process metrics (xG, PPDA, pass completion) were not disclosed in the original article, making it difficult to assess the true performance. Furthermore, the claim that Manchester United returned to the Champions League this season remains questionable, as mainstream sources have not confirmed it. Yet for fans, it was an emotionally fulfilling evening. "This is a deserved return. The players fought for each other, for the shirt, and for the fans. We will take this spirit into the derby," Martínez concluded. With this result, Manchester United temporarily top their group and look ahead to the weekend derby. A real test awaits the team (coach not named in the article) — facing defending Premier League champions Manchester City. If they maintain the focus and fighting spirit shown against Sabah, United could spring a surprise.