Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match as interim Manchester United boss sees the Red Devils host PAOK at Old Trafford in a Europa League clash on Thursday night.
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Both teams, still hunting for their first victory in the competition this season, meet for the first time in history.
Match Preview
Manchester United is facing one of its longest European winless streaks, not having secured a victory in their last six European outings (D4, L2)—their worst record since a similar stretch from 1980 to 1983. Currently, United sits in 21st place in the 36-team Europa League standings after three consecutive draws under Erik ten Hag against FC Twente, Porto, and Fenerbahce, despite leading in each match.
The Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Twente at home and the dramatic 3-3 showdown with Porto were followed by a 1-1 tie in Turkey, where Christian Eriksen’s first-half strike was canceled out by Youssef En-Nesyri’s equalizer. Following these frustrations, ten Hag was dismissed, and Van Nistelrooy has since overseen a resounding 5-2 EFL Cup triumph over Leicester and a 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea. With Ruben Amorim set to assume the managerial role soon, Van Nistelrooy’s final European fixture could be pivotal in lifting the spirits at Old Trafford.
Encouragingly, Manchester United boasts a perfect record against Greek clubs at home, winning all six previous encounters with an impressive aggregate of 20-1. This history sets a favorable stage as they attempt to reignite their European campaign.
PAOK’s Challenge
PAOK, meanwhile, is experiencing their first Europa League season since reaching the Conference League quarter-finals. After losses to Galatasaray (3-1) and FCSB (1-0), PAOK snatched a 2-2 draw with Viktoria Plzen, fighting back from 2-0 down with late heroics. Ranked 30th in the table, PAOK has just one win in their last 13 matches in this competition (D4, L8) and has lost five of their previous six away European fixtures.
Despite European struggles, Razvan Lucescu’s team has shown promise in their domestic league, collecting 20 points from their first 10 games and trailing leaders Aris Thessaloniki by just a point. Thursday’s game precedes a key domestic clash with Olympiacos, making it crucial for PAOK to manage their squad wisely.
Historically, PAOK’s record against English clubs is mixed, featuring two recent defeats to Chelsea in the 2018-19 season. However, they previously enjoyed success against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, showing that surprises can happen.
Team News and Lineups United’s injury list remains significant, with Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Antony, and Leny Yoro all sidelined. Although Mason Mount has resumed training, Thursday’s game is expected to come too soon for him. Christian Eriksen will undergo assessment ahead of kickoff after missing two games, while Bruno Fernandes returns from suspension and is likely to play behind either Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee. Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof are all in contention for starts.
PAOK’s lineup will be without experienced players like Dejan Lovren, Mbwana Samatta, and Vieirinha, all excluded from the Europa League squad. Tiemoue Bakayoko also misses out due to injury, leaving Mady Camara and Stefan Schwab competing for midfield spots. Notably, ex-United winger Shola Shoretire could face his former club after making eight appearances for PAOK this season, scoring once.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Ugarte, Casemiro; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
PAOK: Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Colley, Rahman; Camara, Ozdoyev; Despodov, Konstantelias, Taison; Chalov.
Outlook and Prediction
With Van Nistelrooy injecting some stability, Manchester United are poised as favorites to claim victory at home. PAOK’s patchy European form and United’s resolve to end their winless run make a home victory the likely outcome, although PAOK could still pose problems if overlooked. Expect United to field a strong lineup and break their continental duck in a hard-fought match.
