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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Manchester United 2-0 PAOK: Amad Diallo stars as Red Devils get first Europa League win

Manchester United are finally up and running in the league phase of this season's UEFA Europa League.

After starting the campaign with three successive draws - against FC Twente, Porto and Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce - the Red Devils can now celebrate putting three points on the board after beating PAOK at Old Trafford.

Interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, on his penultimate game in charge before Ruben Amorim officially takes over, made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Chelsea at the weekend as Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo were handed starting berths.

And, certainly in the case of the latter, those decisions were vindicated as Diallo was the difference maker as he broke deadlock early in the second half as he headed home Bruno Fernandes' pin-point cross.

The visitors could, perhaps should, have been level moments later but despite finding space in the area, Tarik Tissoudali's tame shot was easily saved by Andre Onana.

That miss was duly punished minutes later as Diallo showed great tenacity to win the ball back and then great strength to hold off a challenge from former Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman before curling an effort - that took a little deflection - into the back of the net.

There wasn't to be a hat-trick for the impressive winger as he was replaced by Mason Mount with 10 minutes remaining but he more than left his mark on a positive night for United.

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