Three things we learnt as Manchester United secure vital 2-0 win over PAOK | OneFootball

Manchester United welcomed PAOK to Old Trafford for their fourth game of their Europa League season.

The Red Devils lined up with Andre Onana in nets with Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot in the full back positions.

There was a change up at centre back as Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof came in for Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.

The midfield two was the improving Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte got another chance in Europe after impressing against Fenerbahce last time out.

The front four was Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and the returning Amad Diallo who has been starved of a starting spot as of late.

Here are three things we learnt from the match.

United’s first half woes continue

The Red Devils have hardly been free flowing in any minute of football this season but the poor beginning to games is certainly a clear theme.

In 10 out of 16 matches this season, United have failed to score in the first 45 minutes of the match.

Against a team from the Greek league, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men could only muster four shots on goal and one on target, a tame header by Hojlund.

It was hoped that the Red Devils would leap out of the gates with the aim of impressing their new manager, who would be watching at home, but this was far from evident in their display.

Instead, United produced a mundane performance that was matched with a flat atmosphere in front of an Old Trafford crowd that has grown weary of their side struggling against significantly inferior sides.

Rasmus Hojlund continues to be isolated

Whilst United’s wingers tend to get the majority of the ball, a major problem of the Erik ten Hag era was the inabilty to get their number nine involved in the game.

During the last season, it was a regular theme of United games that their young Danish striker would play the role of invisible man on the pitch.

It was hoped that this year would be different but the 21 year old still often struggles to get involved and could only manage 10 touches in the first half and completed only three passes in a poor showing.

It is harsh to lay the entire blame on Hojlund however, as he is rarely found by his wingers and midfielders and it is something new man Ruben Amorim will have to work hard to find an adequate solution to this perpetual issue at the football club.

Amad Diallo spectacularly grabs his opportunity

The Ivorian sparkled in pre-season and seemed like he had finally nailed down a starting spot in August and the start of September.

However, he has found himself out of the team as of late and this was his first start since the start of October.

Whilst the first half was rather dreary from a United perspective, the one bright spark was Amad who ran at the PAOK defence at will and was unlucky not to get a penalty in the first half.

Naturally, it was the 22 year old who broke the deadlock with a wonderful looping header shortly after the second half began and delivered his second goal of the season.

The former Atalanta winger was not done yet however, as he showed everything the rest of his fellow attackers failed to do, in his second goal of the evening. He won the ball back with excellent pressing and held off the defender before sublimly curling his shot into the bottom right hand corner of the Greek net.

Amad will hope he gets another chance from the start against Leicester on Sunday to make the best impression possible on incoming coach Ruben Amorim after the international break.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images