Man United vs PAOK score predicted as Ruud van Nistelrooy searches for first Europa League win

Manchester United will be looking to pick up their first win of the Europa League campaign when they welcome Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki to Old Trafford later today.

With Ruben Amorim set to take charge of United after the November international break, Ruud van Nistelrooy has a few more games in charge at Old Trafford, with the Dutchman having led his side to victory in the Carabao Cup last week before drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in the Premier League on the weekend.

Next up for United is another Europa League clash, with Van Nistelrooy's side winless in three so far in the European competition.

Three draws from three have left United 21st in the Europa League table, with United drawing 1-1 away to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbache last time out. Tonight's opponents are also winless so far, with PAOK having drawn once and lost twice.

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Bruno Fernandes will be available once again after missing the last Europa League game through suspension. So, can United finally pick up three points in the Europa League later today? Let's take a look.

Man United vs PAOK Europa League score predicted

To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 25 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.

We predict that United could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Ugarte, Fernandes, Eriksen; Amad, Hojlund, Garnacho.

We predict that the visitors could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their starting XI as follows: Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Lovren, Camara; Schwab, Baba; Thomas, Zivkovic, Taison; Tissoudali.

United began the game with urgency, and that was down to Amad Diallo on the right, with the winger causing all sorts of problems for the visitors in the opening stages of the game. Amad should have been rewarded with an assist 10 minutes in when he beat his man and fizzed a cross into the box, but Rasmus Hojlund could only direct his effort wide of the post on the stretch.

Van Nistelrooy's side were dominant in the first half, but they almost went into the break a goal down when former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren headed onto the woodwork from a set piece. Unfortunately for United, that first-half intensity disappeared after the restart, forcing Van Nistelrooy into making some changes.

The manager's substitutes paid off though, with United going ahead with 11 minutes to go.

A fantastic challenge from Christian Eriksen just inside United's half saw possession flip into his side's hands, with Fernandes leading the charge towards goal. The United captain drove the ball into the feet of substitute Joshua Zirkzee, and from 25 yards out, the striker opted to shoot, with his long-range effort nesting into the bottom corner.

Zirkzee's goal proved to be the decisive one as United picked up their first Europa League win of the season

EA FC 25 predicted final score: Man United 1-0 PAOK

What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments!

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