Key events
David Hytner
United clinical on Champions League return to dismiss Sabah
Manchester United were back in Europe’s elite competition after a two-year hiatus and in need of something to soothe them after the trauma of their last-gasp coughing up of two points in last Sunday’s Premier League draw at Everton. And before the extremely serious business of the derby here against Manchester City on Sunday. They got it on the back of a first-half performance that burned slowly before catching fire.
Sabah were game. United were clinical. It was Matheus Cunha who broke the deadlock midway through the first half and the defining moments came at the end of the period when Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko sent United into half-time with a three-goal cushion. Lisandro Martínez added the fourth late on. It was a case of job done for Michael Carrick, no wobbles. Now for City.
Read David Hytner’s full report from Old Trafford:
Hall agrees contract extension
Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
Reports suggest the left-back, 22, has agreed a two-year extension to his original deal that would take his contract up to 2031.
Hall has been the subject of interest from Manchester United, among others, but has now committed his immediate future to Newcastle.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to play for this club and to represent the supporters,” he said. “I know how much it means to them.
“To be able to bring joy to their faces, it’s a big thing for me. I obviously have a family connection with the club, which is incredibly important to us all.
“One of the main reasons I play is to make my family proud, and I know how much it means to them to watch me playing for Newcastle United.”
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Preamble
No club embraces chaos quite like Chelsea. Stability has been absent at Stamford Bridge going back even as far as the Ken Bates era. The latest twist in west London has been foreseen for a while, with warring factions between the current ownership meaning a parting of ways was always likely but Mark Walter’s issues with US tax authorities have accelerated the timeline. Then, on Thursday evening, Matt Hughes and Jacob Steinberg came through with the report that Chelsea’s majority owners, Clearlake Capital, are closing in on an agreement to buy out co-owners Todd Boehly and Walter in a deal that would see the pair make a profit on their investment and value the club at around £5bn.
We’ll be across any further updates on that story, plus the reaction to last night’s European action and all the other news ahead of the weekend football. Plenty to get stuck into.