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Anthony Martial drops man of the match performance on first start for AEK Athens

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Anthony Martial drops man of the match performance on first start for AEK Athens
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Manchester United had a happy time of things vs Leicester in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge and the same delight was there for ex-United man Anthony Martial.

Martial left United in the summer after his contract wasn’t extended due to injuries and poor form plus general inconsistency.

Failing to find a club in the top-five leagues, Martial joined Greek side AEK Athens, following the likes of Shola Shoretire and Facundo Pellistri at PAOK and Panathinaikos respectively.

He wasn’t included in the first three squads after joining and only came off the bench for the next two before being handed his first start in the cup game vs Aris.

Martial made the most of it with a man-of-the-match performance.

Anthony Martial of Manchester United waves to supporters after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Traff...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Anthony Martial’s first start for AEK Athens

For a player who had last played for United in December before quietly leaving the club on a whimper, it wasn’t a surprise that it took him time to get up to speed.

His signing was a coup for Athens so they would want him to be at his best before throwing him into the deep end.

Then, Martial is also no stranger to making a great first impression as his debut goal vs Liverpool still remains one of the unforgettable Old Trafford memories.

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Therefore, the expectations were high when he took to the field for his debut start for AEK Athens in Green Cup vs Aris.

The Frenchman played 70 minutes to build his match fitness and scored the only goal of the game at the stroke of half-time to give his side the ticket to progress to the next round.

After the game, the fans overwhelmingly voted him as the man of the match for his crucial goal to give him a memorable first start for Athens.

Man United contingent in Greek Super League

As said above, Martial is not the only ex-United player to have joined the Greek Super League this season. He’s just the latest one to have a positive impact.

Shola Shoretire also had a first recently when he scored his first goal for PAOK days before returning to Manchester United in the Europa League.

In total, he has played seven games for his new club this season as he tries to rebuild his career after not being able to make it at Old Trafford.

The biggest success story has been Facundo Pellistri, who has impressed one and all at Panathinaikos with his quickly developing game.

The Uruguayan has been ever-present for Panathinaikos, making 13 appearances already in all competitions, scoring two goals and an assist. He scored against Chelsea in the European Conference League and has continued to thrive in his first full season as an important squad member.

United will likely be keeping an eye on him since they have a sell-on clause but United fans will likely to be more interested in how Martial is faring since his talent ensures he will always have a soft spot in many fans’ hearts.

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