Man Utd 2 – 0 PAOK S’nika
Amad Diallo scored twice to breathe life into Manchester United’s Europa League marketing campaign with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Greek champions PAOK Salonika at Outdated Trafford.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, in his third recreation as interim boss, handed Amad his first begin in over a month – and the 22-12 months-previous repaid his religion with a vibrant efficiency that was capped by two decisive second-half strikes to ignite United’s hopes of progressing to the knockout phases.
United had drawn their opening three Europa League encounters towards Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce and it was important that they received off the mark towards a PAOK facet who had the higher of the primary-half probabilities. Andre Onana produced advantageous saves to disclaim each Mady Camara and Andrija Zivkovic.
Diallo’s opener was simply his second objective in main European competitors
Man Utd group information
Ruud van Nistelrooy made three adjustments to his Manchester United facet. Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans changed Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
Amad Diallo got here into the assault, with Marcus Rashford making method. Antony, Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount all recovered from harm and have been additionally among the many substitutes.
In distinction, United solely fleetingly threatened Dominik Kotarski’s objective within the opening 45 minutes with Rasmus Hojlund’s tame header from Casemiro’s cross simply stored out earlier than a superb piece of final-ditch defending from Baba Rahman denied Amad on the far submit.
Larger urgency was demanded from the restart, and inside 5 minutes United have been in entrance as Amad rose to satisfy Bruno Fernandes’ deep cross to loop a header again throughout objective and in off the far submit.
United have been practically unpicked instantly as Taison fed the unmarked Tarik Tissoudali, however the PAOK striker telegraphed his shot from level-clean vary. It enabled Amad to place the seal on a victory for Van Nistelrooy with a decided run and end which can do his probabilities of that includes beneath incoming head coach Ruben Amorim no hurt (77).
The victory moved United as much as fifteenth because the 36-group league section reached the midway level, with their subsequent Europa League match towards Bodo/Glimt being Amorim’s first match at Outdated Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy instructed TNT Sports activities: “Amad made a difference today, because of his goals but he was very sharp. Well done to him, good game. Positionally we weren’t good in the first half. We were much better at that in the second half.
“He has been unimaginable in coaching, he all the time trains effectively and is asking me to do extra.”
How Diallo dazzled in early Amorim audition
Amad curls within the second of his two good targets
United had received simply one in all their final 11 European video games and the Greek champions have been no pushovers.
The 4,000 followers within the away finish – plus a quantity within the dwelling part – held their breath early on after Camara’s shot was blocked by Casemiro, wrongfooting Onana earlier than being handled.
Zivkovic bent effectively extensive after making himself house because the refrain of PAOK chants continued and United started asking questions of their very own.
Van Nistelrooy’s facet began sending balls into the field and Alejandro Garnacho noticed a shot blocked shortly after the VAR checked for a possible penalty.
Participant rankings
Man Utd: Onana (7), Mazraoui (6), Lindelof (7), Evans (7), Dalot (6), Ugarte (6), Casemiro (7), Diallo (8), Fernandes (7), Garnacho (6), Hojlund (6).
Subs: Martinez (6), Mount (n/a), Rashford (6), Zirkzee (n/a), Eriksen (6).
PAOK: Kotarski (7), Jonny Otto (7), Kedziora (6), Colley (6), Baba (7), Ozdoev (6), Schwab (6), Zivkovic (7), Camara (6), Taison (7), Tissoudali (5).
Subs: Bakayoko (6), Chalov (6), Shoretire (n/a) Despodov (n/a).
Participant of the Match: Amad Diallo.
Diallo went down having been caught by former Chelsea left-again Rahman, however referee Radu Petrescu’s determination to disregard the appeals have been ratified by Daniele Chiffi within the sales space.
Hojlund noticed a bundled header gathered by Kotarski having met a cross from Diallo, who noticed the ball taken off his toe by Rahman after Garnacho whizzed a low ball to him on the far submit.
PAOK confirmed rising risk because the opening interval wound down. Onana stopped Zivkovic’s hopeful try after which tipped over Camara’s snapshot after a advantageous first contact.
(*2*)
Amad Diallo, centre, scores the opening objective
Neither facet made a change heading right into a second half that was 5 minutes previous when Amad broke the impasse.
Bruno Fernandes despatched a diagonal ball to the far submit, the place the winger stretched to ship a looping header again throughout objective and simply contained in the submit.
PAOK claimed Hojlund had impeded Tomasz Kedziora’s try and clear, nevertheless it was given the inexperienced mild after a VAR test.
Diallo was denied a second by Kotarski as United performed with intent however with out the requisite incision. That has been expensive for United this time period and Zivkovic lasered narrowly extensive earlier than PAOK blew an excellent sixty fourth-minute likelihood.
Tissoudali’s obtrusive miss was a let-off for Van Nistelrooy’s facet, who calmed the nerves with a incredible 77th-minute objective.
Amad curls within the second of his two good targets
Amad received possession as he continued his battle with Rahman, displaying power then ability as he moved on to his left foot and curled dwelling a advantageous effort from the sting of the field.
Mason Mount got here on after the match-winner appeared to select up a knock, with the guests then bringing on Shola Shoretire.
The United academy graduate stays the youngest participant to characteristic for the Purple Devils in a European recreation and was applauded on to the sector by the house help. Marcus Rashford went near including gloss in stoppage time.
Van Nistelrooy added: “It was a pretty poor first half if I’m being nice. The second half way was better. That was clear. For me it was important to get results. I can only be happy with the performance that the players put in.
“I get pleasure from it however Sunday is one other one and I am so targeted on doing that so I am not considering of what’s subsequent.”
Amad has to begin towards Leicester
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Darren Ambrose reacts to Amad Diallo’s ‘good’ second objective for Man Utd towards PAOK.
Sky Sports activities’ Ben Grounds:
From the primary whistle, there was an edge to Amad. Neglected in direction of the top of Erik ten Hag’s reign, right here he demonstrated an utility each with and with out the ball these eager to play in his place should look as much as for instance to comply with.
He can have definitely caught Amorim’s eye on his first begin in 5 weeks, with the vigorous winger denied a penalty regardless of showing to be caught by Baba Rahman in a forgettable first half.
PAOK’s Baba Rahman, proper, and Amad Diallo
He continued to show a thorn within the facet and wonderfully guided dwelling a header earlier than settling nerves with a phenomenal curling effort from distance after successful the ball.
In opposition to PAOK, he helped himself to his first ever brace for United, with 5 of his six targets in all competitions for his facet coming at Outdated Trafford.
His opener was simply his second objective in main European competitors, additionally netting a header assisted by Bruno Fernandes for United towards Milan in March 2021 within the Europa League.
For Amorim, it’s a mixture that might show very fruitful offered Amad makes use of this efficiency because the benchmark shifting ahead.
Amad: I simply wish to make folks comfortable
Diallo scored his first ever brace for Manchester United
This was simply Amad’s second begin in 9 matches. He took the applause from the supporters barefoot having been withdrawn as a precaution in direction of the top. However nothing may wipe the smile off his face.
“It’s been a long time since we won in Europe,” he instructed TNT Sports activities. “Today we showed why we are one of the best teams. It was important to win today. It is important to score every time. This season I have been unlucky so I am happy to score two today. But the most important thing was to win.
“I wish to rejoice with the followers and make folks comfortable.”
Fortress Outdated Trafford – Opta stats
Manchester United have been pissed off through the first half
- Manchester United have misplaced simply one in all their final 26 dwelling video games within the UEFA Europa League (W19 D6). Certainly, solely Roma (22) have received extra such matches than the Purple Devils within the competitors for the reason that begin of this run in February 2016
- PAOK Salonika have didn’t win their opening 4 group stage matches in a serious European marketing campaign for simply the second time (D1 L3), after additionally failing to take action within the 2015-16 version of the UEFA Europa League.
- No participant has assisted extra targets in UEFA Europa League historical past than Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (16 – degree with Borek Dockal).
- Since his European debut for Sporting CP in September 2017, Bruno Fernandes has recorded extra assists in main European competitors than some other participant (26).