Key occasions
17 min: Diallo dribbles in from the precise once more. Baba Rahman challenges. Diallo falls over because the ball pings out for a nook. However is {that a} penalty? Baba didn’t join an excessive amount of with the ball, however definitely did with Diallo. VAR to test.
16 min: Garnacho crosses from the left. Too sturdy. Purpose kick. Each groups are striving for the opener. Full marks for effort, however neither keeper has had any actual work to do but.
15 min: Fernandes delivers to the close to publish. The busy Živković clears.
14 min: Casemiro advances down the precise and loops lengthy for Garnacho on the far stick. Garnacho head-and-shoulders the ball again infield. Off track, however sufficient to win a nook. Fernandes takes, and that nook results in take two.
13 min: Now it’s Dalot’s flip to make a multitude of a defensive header. He tees up Živković on the right-hand nook of the United field. Živković opens his physique and appears for the stunner into the highest left, however will get all of it fallacious. Half an opportunity, although.
12 min: Kędziora makes a multitude of a easy clearing header and almost lets Dalot in down the center. The PAOK defender battles arduous to rectify his mistake and finally tidies up.
10 min: The Previous Trafford devoted begin up a U-NI-TED chant, hoping to get their workforce going. Diallo responds with a dribble infield from the precise, however Colley is available to shut down the route.
8 min: Yep, thought as a lot. PAOK spend a little bit of time knocking it round. Živković has one other look down the precise however is compelled to show tail. The guests shortly discovering their ft.
6 min: … however then PAOK launch their first assault. Živković enters the field down the precise and cuts again for Camara, who has a dig from the sting of the field. His shot takes an enormous deflection off Casemiro, and on one other day may need whistled throughout the startled Onana and into the underside left, however there’s not sufficient pace left on the ball for own-goal shenanigans. That’ll give the guests confidence, you’d have thought.
4 min: Fernandes is already inflicting issues within the pocket. He almost feeds Hojlund, then fails to string a cross by means of for Mazraoui.
3 min: Garnacho has the chance to slide Fernandes into the field down the left. He clumsily overhits the cross. Purpose kick.
2 min: … and so each groups start their quest for a primary win on this Europa League marketing campaign. A quiet begin on the pitch, however each units of followers make their lovely noise.
Manchester United get the ball rolling. They’re kicking in the direction of the Stretford Finish throughout this primary half.
… however first, a second of solemn reflection to honour these misplaced to the floods in Spain. Noticed with the utmost respect.
Right here come the groups! Manchester United of their well-known crimson shirts and white shorts with slightly-lighter-red flash, PAOK Salonika of their first-choice black and white Notts County / Newcastle United / Juventus [delete according to preference†] stripes. We’ll be off as soon as cash have been tossed, palms of friendship clasped, company anthems performed, and pennants swapped.
† Different black-and-white-striped golf equipment can be found
All the early kick-offs have now completed. A tranche of outcomes that features a 3-2 defeat for Spurs at Galatasaray, and a resolute 1-1 draw for Rangers at Olympiakos. All of which implies that, earlier than United and PAOK pull their boots on, the Europa League Distend-o-Desk™ appears to be like like this, each of tonight’s Previous Trafford combatants having dropped a few locations on account of all that sizzling motion. Ninety minutes coming as much as proper some wrongs!
Ruud van Nistelrooy speaks to TNT Sports activities. “Good recollections … what’s most vital is to get the lads again at their greatest … lots occurred … the outcomes weren’t good … there was lots of strain on them … there is no such thing as a time for me to make huge adjustments … my relationship with the workforce is excellent … as an assistant supervisor you’re nearer to the lads than the supervisor … in order that helps me lots now … we actually received it going collectively … come on, we now have 4 video games collectively, let’s profit from it … get all the outcomes we will … confidence is such an enormous factor in soccer … it impacts performances and magnificence … within the Leicester sport we scored 4 in a single half and wow, there’s an excellent attacking model once more … it’s a foolish factor, the boldness factor in soccer … when outcomes come, it is sort of a million {dollars} for strikers … the lads need to imagine … Rasmus is working arduous on his hold-up play … Casemiro and Ugarte can talk effectively collectively … they’re answerable for the moments we press … they’re doing rather well and we profit from it.”
He’s additionally requested when he expects to listen to whether or not he’ll be staying on below Ruben Amorim … and straight-bats his reply, simply as you’d count on him to. “I deal with this and hopefully quickly!”
There are a number of outdated mates within the PAOK squad. Probably the most notable for United followers is Shola Shoretire, the 20-year-old winger having joined PAOK in the summertime after his Previous Trafford contract ran out. He’s on the bench. Baba Rahman, previously of Chelsea, and Wolves defender Jonny begin, whereas one other one-time Pensioner, Tiémoué Bakayoko, is a sub. There’s no room in any respect for erstwhile Southampton and Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, although.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate beginning choice as interim supervisor of Manchester United sees the beloved former striker make three adjustments within the wake of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans change Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez on the again, whereas Amad Diallo is available in for Marcus Rashford up entrance. All three displaced gamers are on the bench, alongside Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount, who return from damage.
The groups
Man Utd: Onana, Mazraoui, Lindelof, Evans, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Diallo, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, de Ligt, Martinez, Mount, Rashford, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Antony, Wheatley, Amass, Fitzgerald.
PAOK: Kotarski, Jonny Otto, Kedziora, Colley, Baba, Ozdoev, Schwab, Zivkovic, Camara, Taison, Tissoudali.
Subs: Monastirlis, Balomenos, Michailidis, Bakayoko, Chalov, Sastre, Thymianis, Shoretire, Thomas Llamas, Despodov.
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania).
Preamble
Manchester United have already had one huge European victory to have a good time this week. You recognize the one. You recognize why. It’s not a lot of a leap.
That’s to not say they couldn’t do with an precise win of their very personal, although. United are presently twenty second within the Europa League megatable, after attracts of various levels of ropiness in opposition to Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce. The feelgood issue is perhaps again at Previous Trafford within the wake of Erik ten Hag’s dismissal and Ruben Amorim’s impending arrival, however that received’t cease the temper momentarily descending once more ought to United fail to notice off the Panthessalonian Athletic Membership of Constantinopolitans, who often is the reigning Greek champions however are presently thirtieth within the Europa League desk after two losses and a draw; have solely received three of their final 9 matches in all competitions, shedding 4; and are a hundred and ninetieth in this season’s official Uefa rankings, a full 143 locations under their esteemed hosts†. Having mentioned all that, United can’t take something with no consideration, given their very own surprising type: simply two wins of their final ten in all competitions. They’re sizzling favourites tonight, however then we’ve mentioned that earlier than. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
† For the file, the total Uefa coefficients are a way more wholesome 49 and 15 respectively.
