Manchester United finally secured their first Europa League win of the season, defeating Greek champions PAOK 2-0 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils, who had been held to three consecutive draws in their European campaign, were desperate for three points, and it was Amad Diallo who stepped up to deliver in the second half.
The match began with a lackluster first-half performance from United, as they struggled to create clear chances and looked at risk of dropping more points. PAOK appeared more threatening early on, with Camara testing United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, as the visitors sought to exploit United’s vulnerabilities.
However, United returned from the break with a renewed sense of urgency and immediately took control of the game. Just five minutes into the second half, Diallo opened the scoring, sparking celebrations at Old Trafford. The 22-year-old winger wasn’t finished, and he doubled the lead with a stunning second strike that left PAOK with no route back into the game. Diallo’s heroics sealed the three points and boosted United’s morale in Europe.
Statistically, the second half highlighted United's transformation. After managing only four shots in the first period, they registered 12 attempts in the second, three of which were on target. Defensively, they restricted PAOK to just three shots and limited their expected goals (xG) to 0.63, while United finished with an xG of 1.17.
The victory moves Manchester United up in the Europa League standings, with six points from four matches, as they continue their quest to advance in the competition. Meanwhile, PAOK remains bottom of the group with only one point. United will next take on Leicester City in the Premier League, marking interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final game in charge before Ruben Amorim takes over as head coach. PAOK, on the other hand, will face Olympiacos in their domestic league on Sunday.
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