PAOK vs Man Utd: Player Ratings, Amad Stands Out
Manchester United secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over PAOK in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg, with Amad Diallo shining as the standout performer. The young Ivorian winger showcased his impressive skills, dazzling the Greek side with his pace, dribbling, and clinical finishing.
Here's a detailed look at the player ratings from the match:
Manchester United
Amad Diallo (9/10): The star of the show, Amad was a constant threat down the right flank. His pace and dribbling ability gave the PAOK defense nightmares, and he capped off a stellar performance with a well-taken goal.
Bruno Fernandes (8/10): The Portuguese maestro pulled the strings in midfield, dictating the tempo of the game and creating numerous chances for his teammates. His pinpoint cross led to the opening goal, and his overall influence was undeniable.
Mason Greenwood (7/10): The young Englishman proved his worth once again, scoring a beautiful goal with a clever finish. He was a constant threat in the attacking third and linked up well with his teammates.
Anthony Martial (6/10): While Martial didn't get on the scoresheet, his work rate and ability to hold up the ball were key to United's dominance. He also provided a crucial assist for Amad's goal.
Scott McTominay (6/10): McTominay anchored the midfield, providing a solid defensive presence and distributing the ball efficiently. He was also involved in the build-up to United's second goal.
Luke Shaw (6/10): Shaw was solid at left-back, providing a good defensive performance and offering support in attack.
Victor Lindelof (6/10): The Swedish defender played a crucial role in keeping PAOK's attack at bay. He was assured in possession and made vital interceptions.
Harry Maguire (6/10): The captain was a steady presence in the heart of the United defense. He dealt well with PAOK's aerial threat and organized the backline effectively.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6/10): Wan-Bissaka was reliable defensively, stopping PAOK's wingers from getting into dangerous positions. However, he was less impactful going forward.
Donny van de Beek (5/10): Van de Beek came on as a substitute and had a decent impact, adding some creativity to United's midfield.
Nemanja Matic (N/A): Matic came on late in the game and didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.
PAOK
Alexandros Paschalakis (5/10): Paschalakis was unable to prevent all three goals, but he made several decent saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Giannis Konstantelias (5/10): Konstantelias struggled to make an impact on the game, with United's defense proving too strong for him to break through.
Fernando Varela (5/10): Varela had a tough time dealing with United's attacking prowess, especially Amad's pace and trickery.
Jasmin Kurtic (5/10): Kurtic was unable to control the midfield battle, with United's dominance leaving him with little room to operate.
Omar El Kaddouri (4/10): El Kaddouri was largely ineffective throughout the match and failed to provide a creative spark for PAOK.
Dimitris Pelkas (4/10): Pelkas was unable to create any clear-cut chances for his team and was ultimately replaced in the second half.
Chuba Akpom (4/10): Akpom was isolated up front and struggled to get involved in the game.
Andrija Zivkovic (4/10): Zivkovic was unable to exploit any weaknesses in United's defense and was ultimately taken off in the second half.
Stefan Schwab (4/10): Schwab was ineffective in midfield and offered little to PAOK's attacking efforts.
Leo Jaba (N/A): Jaba came on as a substitute and did not have enough time to make a significant impact.
Diego Biseswar (N/A): Biseswar came on as a substitute and did not have enough time to make a significant impact.
The takeaway
Amad's performance was the highlight of the match. His confidence, skill, and goal-scoring ability were impressive, and he underlined his potential as a future star for Manchester United. The Red Devils will be confident going into the second leg with a comfortable lead, while PAOK faces a huge task to turn things around in Thessaloniki.