You know that feeling when a massive football club is just treading water? That was Manchester United in late 2024. Before the Amad Diallo masterclass against PAOK, United hadn't won a European match in over a year. 380 days, to be exact. It’s wild to think about now, but the atmosphere at Old Trafford on November 7 was more about relief than any sort of tactical revolution.
Basically, the script for the night was simple: don't mess this up. Ruud van Nistelrooy was in the dugout as the interim boss, keeping the seat warm for Ruben Amorim. People keep talking about this game like it was some dominant display of "Ruudball," but if you actually watched those first 45 minutes, it was kinda painful.
The Amad Diallo show nobody expected
Let’s be honest. Amad had been frozen out. Erik ten Hag seemingly didn't fancy him, often preferring Antony or moving others out of position. So when he got the start against the Greek champions, he had a massive point to prove.
The first half was a total snooze-fest. United had the ball—about 53% possession—but they weren't doing anything with it. PAOK actually looked dangerous on the break. Mady Camara forced a brilliant save out of Andre Onana, and for a minute there, you could feel the collective groan of the Stretford End.
Then the second half started.
Five minutes in, Bruno Fernandes loops a cross to the back post. Amad, who isn't exactly a giant, somehow manages to loop a header over Dominik Kotarski. It was one of those "how did that go in?" moments. 1-0.
But the real magic—the goal that everyone still shares on social media—happened in the 77th minute. Amad basically bullied Abdul Rahman Baba. He outmuscled the former Chelsea man, won the ball back, drove toward the edge of the box, and curled a left-footed beauty into the far corner. It was pure individual brilliance. No complex tactics, just a kid who wanted it more than anyone else on the pitch.
Why this game mattered for the long term
Most fans focus on the scoreline, but the Manchester United vs PAOK match was actually a massive audition.
Ruben Amorim was already packing his bags in Lisbon at this point. He was looking for players who could fit his high-intensity, wing-back-heavy system. Amad’s second goal was a perfect highlight reel for the new boss:
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- High Pressing: He didn't wait for the ball; he hunted it.
- Physicality: He shrugged off a defender twice his size.
- Clinical Finishing: He took the shot early before the keeper could set.
PAOK didn't lie down, though. Tarik Tissoudali had a golden chance to level it at 1-1. He was completely unmarked in the box. Honestly, if he hits that anywhere else than straight at Onana, the Amorim era might have started with a lot more pressure.
Breaking the European curse
The 2-0 win was United's first victory in the new Europa League league phase. Before this, it was a string of frustrating draws against FC Twente, Porto, and Fenerbahce.
It's funny how one night changes the narrative. Suddenly, the "unwinnable" European nights felt manageable again. The stats tell a story of efficiency rather than dominance. United had 16 shots, but only 4 were on target. PAOK had 8 shots and also managed 4 on target. It was a close game decided by a single player's hunger.
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Tactical takeaways from the 90 minutes
Ruud van Nistelrooy kept things pretty standard with a 4-2-3-1, but he gave the wingers more freedom to drift inside.
- The Midfield Balance: Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro started together. It was heavy. It lacked some of the zip we see now, but it gave the back four enough protection to handle Taison and Zivkovic.
- The Full-back Rotation: Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui were constantly swapping sides. It looked a bit disorganized at times, but it eventually wore down the PAOK wingers.
- The Hojlund Struggle: Rasmus Hojlund only had 10 touches in the first half. He was isolated. This match proved that without creative wingers like Amad taking risks, the strikers at United starve.
If you’re looking at what to do with this information, the biggest takeaway for any United fan or analyst is to watch the "pressure to turnover" ratio. Amad’s second goal didn't come from a tactical set piece; it came from a 1v1 duel won through sheer grit.
Moving forward, keep an eye on how United handles teams that sit deep. The PAOK game showed that when the structure fails, individual brilliance—specifically from players who have been overlooked—is usually the only way out. If you're tracking player development, look at Amad's defensive stats; that's what actually earned him his spot under the new regime.
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The Greek side left Old Trafford feeling hard done by, and rightfully so. They played well. But at this level, if you don't have a match-winner like Diallo, you're just making up the numbers.