Man Utd v PAOK LIVE: Latest score as Amad Diallo stunner wraps up Europa League victory

Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy praised match-winner Amad Diallo’s attitude and aptitude after Manchester United ended their 380-day wait for a European victory against PAOK.

Erik ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim watched from afar as the Red Devils kicked on from draws in their first three Europa League matches and secured a first continental victory since last October.

United’s new head coach could not have failed to be impressed by winger Diallo, who shone on his first start in five weeks and scored both goals in a 2-0 victory against the Greek champions.

“I think the second goal had everything in it that for me is Amad Diallo,” Van Nistelrooy said after his penultimate match in charge.

“He fought to take the ball off the PAOK defender and then he pushed through to get the shot, and in the end he had the quality to bend it around the goalkeeper. That sums him up.”

Amad Diallo is looking forward to working with new head coach Ruben Amorim and wants to extend his contract with Manchester United as he seeks to “make history”.

The 22-year-old has had his ups and downs since joining the Red Devils from Atalanta in January 2021, including loans of differing success with Rangers and Sunderland.

Diallo wrote his name into United folklore by scoring last season’s extra-time winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup and on Thursday marked his first start in five weeks with a decisive display.

The winger impressively guided home a header against PAOK, before winning possession and brilliantly curling home as he sealed a 2-0 victory in the new-look Europa League group phase.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate game as interim manager saw the Red Devils finally taste victory in Europe this season. Read Richard Jolly’s report from Old Trafford:

Amorim will inherit this team 15th place in the Europa League table, with four matches played and four more to come. A reminder that the top eight sides go straight through to the round of 16, and all those sides who finish between 9th and 24th will go into play-offs in order to decide who progresses.

Finally, Manchester United have a win in this Europa League campaign. Amad Diallo was excellent, their best player by a fair way, and his performance felt like a message to incoming manager Ruben Amorim.

89 min: A big chance for Marcus Rashford entering the box on the left side as United counter, but he slides his effort just wide of the far post.

85 min: It’s Mason Mount’s first appearance since the end of September, after suffering a head injury in the 3-0 defeat by Spurs.

Former United forward Shola Shoretire comes on from PAOK as a substitute, and Old Trafford applauds the academy graduate.

82 min: No sooner had Amad finished celebrating than he went down to the floor grimacing. That will be a worry for the watching Ruben Amorim.

He’s replaced by Mason Mount.

Brilliant goal! Amad Diallo hustles the ball from a PAOK defender and dribbles towards the box. He shifts it on to his left foot before unleashing a curling effort into the far corner, with the benefit of a small deflection. Old Trafford loved that.