Manchester United take on Greek side PAOK in the Europa League tonight at Old Trafford, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side looking for their first win of this season’s European campaign.
United laboured to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend, though this match against the Greek champions offers a good chance for a morale-boosting performance in what is Van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match in charge. United lie in 21st position in the competition’s league table, but while the Greek champions have been in good form domestically, they have faltered in Europe so far this season with only one point from three games.
Incoming United manager Ruben Amorim takes charge of the club on 11 November, the day after the league match against Leicester, and van Nistelrooy can do his successor a favour with an important three points in both of his remaining matches.
Follow the latest score and all the action from Man Utd v PAOK below.
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.
PAOK fans making a racket at Old Trafford
The overriding impression from the start is just how loud the PAOK fans are. If they could turn the volume down for a bit, that might be appreciated. In other news, Erik ten Hag’s plan of using Noussair Mazraoui as a No 10 in Europe seems to have been abandoned by Ruud van Nistelrooy. A shame.