Manchester United will host Greek side PAOK at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday, marking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match in interim charge of the Red Devils. The two teams will face off for the first time in European competition, with both sides seeking their first victory in this season’s tournament.
Recent Form
For Manchester United, it has been over a year since their last continental win, and they enter this match with a difficult run of results. The Red Devils have drawn four and lost two of their last six European games, marking their worst run in Europe since the early 1980s. Their most recent European matches under former manager Erik ten Hag saw them draw all three of their opening fixtures in the new Europa League league phase: a 1-1 draw against FC Twente at home, a 3-3 draw away to Porto, and another 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce. Despite having the lead in all three of those encounters, United has struggled to secure victories.
After the sacking of Ten Hag, Van Nistelrooy stepped in as interim manager. His tenure has seen a mixed bag of results, with a 5-2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup and a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League. Van Nistelrooy now faces the challenge of reigniting United’s Europa League campaign and ensuring they do not fall further behind in the standings. Currently, the team is sitting in 21st place out of 36 in the Europa League group stage.
Historically, however, United has a strong record when facing Greek opposition. They have won all six of their previous home meetings with Greek clubs, boasting an aggregate score of 20-1, which provides them with confidence going into this match.
PAOK’s Struggles
PAOK, managed by Razvan Lucescu, have had a tough start to their Europa League campaign. Competing in the tournament for the first time in four years, the Greek side has struggled, failing to win any of their first three games. They began their campaign with losses to Galatasaray (3-1) and FCSB (1-0), before salvaging a 2-2 draw against Viktoria Plzen after coming from two goals down in their most recent outing.
With just one point from their opening three matches, PAOK currently sit 30th in the Europa League standings. Their poor continental form extends beyond the current season, as they have won just one of their last 13 European matches, including five losses in their last six away games in Europe. Their away form has been especially concerning, and it is clear that the challenge of playing at Old Trafford will be a formidable one.
Despite their European struggles, PAOK has performed well domestically. They are the defending champions of the Greek Super League and have made a strong start to the current season, sitting just one point behind leaders Aris Thessaloniki after 10 games. PAOK’s recent 2-1 win over Lamia in the league should give them some confidence, but their focus will now shift to trying to claim a positive result against Manchester United.
Team News and Lineups
Manchester United has some key injuries to contend with. The fitness of several players is in question as Van Nistelrooy manages his squad for this match. With the club’s European aspirations hanging in the balance, it is likely that the interim boss will rotate the squad to ensure fresh legs for the upcoming weeks. Key players like Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen are expected to play crucial roles in midfield, while a front line featuring players such as Marcus Rashford and Antony will need to find their scoring touch.
On the other hand, PAOK are expected to rely on their experienced core, with key players such as forward Diego Biseswar and midfielder Sokratis Dioudis playing pivotal roles. Their defense, which has been a point of vulnerability in Europe, will need to be at its best to contain Manchester United’s attacking threats.
Tactical Preview
United will likely approach this match with an attacking mindset, given the importance of securing a win to stay in the hunt for a top spot in their group. Van Nistelrooy will likely set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilizing the width of the pitch with wingers and full-backs overlapping to put pressure on PAOK’s defense. The midfield battle will be crucial, with United looking to dominate possession and create chances for their forwards.
PAOK, on the other hand, will likely adopt a more defensive stance, looking to counter-attack through the pace of their forwards. Given their struggles in defense, they will need to be compact and organized, hoping to frustrate United’s attackers and seize any opportunity on the break.
Prediction
Given Manchester United’s superior squad and home advantage, they will be favorites to claim all three points. PAOK’s poor away record and lack of form in Europe leave them with a tough task ahead. While the Greeks may offer some resistance, United’s attacking strength and the desperation to get a win will likely prove too much.
Final Score Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 PAOK
