Man Utd v PAOK LIVE: Latest score as Amad Diallo stunner wraps up Europa League victory
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match as United interim head coach secured a first win of the European campaign
A brace from Amad Diallo earned Manchester United a 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League, as interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy achieved what Erik ten Hag had failed to do with the club’s first victory in this season’s competition.
United had drawn their three previous Europa League games, but Diallo’s looping header back across the goal into the bottom corner from a Bruno Fernandes cross five minutes after the break sent Van Nistelrooy’s side on their way.
Diallo made sure of victory 13 minutes from time, dispossessing Baba Rahman and holding off the defender’s challenge to make his way to the edge of the area before unleashing a curling shot which took a slight deflection on its way into the far corner.
Van Nistelrooy, who will shortly make way for new manager Ruben Amorim, replaced the sacked Ten Hag 10 days ago and is unbeaten in his three games in charge. United have six points in the Europa League standings. Follow all the reaction from Man Utd v PAOK below.
Second half! Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
Back under way for the second half – no changes for either side.
Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
United finish the half on the front foot as Bruno Fernandes makes a good run into the box. He dummies to cross and then stops the ball dead near the right byline, throwing most of PAOK’s defence the wrong way, before setting the ball back for Amad. But the winger jumps over the ball thinking there must be a teammate arriving behind him, and there isn’t one.
A bit of a mess, and that’s half-time.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
42 min: Good from PAOK, who come fowards in a couple of waves of attack. Baba Rahman skips away from Mazraoui on the left side of the box and zips a dangerous low cross into the centre, but fortunately for United it misses his teammates and Garnacho is there at the far post to clear.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
39 min: We are ticking closer to half-time, and this has all been a little bit underwhelming from the home side. Some bright moments, but the spark lacking throughout most of Ten Hag’s tenure still seems to be missing.
Wingers liven up slow start to Europa League clash
The PAOK right winger Andrija Zivkovic has been lively – indeed, the two liveliest players on the pitch have been the right wingers, with Amad Diallo United’s brightest individual so far.
The most watchable, in his inimitable way, may be Casemiro, a strangely entertaining player. Though so far, this is not a particularly entertaining game.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
32 min: United surge down the right with Amad and Bruno Fernandes connecting, but they run into a dead end near the box as Baba Rahman – formerly of Chelsea – races back to shut down the winger.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
28 min: A shot by the visitors, and it comes from their main threat so far, Zivkovic, cutting in from the right side on to his left foot before letting fly, but it sails straight into the chest of Onana.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
26 min: Excellent defending by PAOK’s Jonny Otto, as Bruno Fernandes slips Casemiro into the box and the Brazilian looks to line up a shot, only to be dispossessed at the last possible moment.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
24 min: The game has settled into a rhythm, with United keeping most of the ball and PAOK having to stay compact and defend inside their own half, but it’s still goalless.
Manchester United 0-0 PAOK
19 min: More pressure from United. First Amad dribbles into the box and is bundled off the ball, with a legitimate shout for a penalty which is waved away by the Romanian referee. Then Garnacho dribbles inside and fires a shot but it’s headed off target by a PAOK defender. And a moment later, a curling cross is headed straight at the goalkeeper by Rasmus Hojlund.
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