Christopher Nkunku found his old rhythm quickly on Saturday, striking three times before half-time as RB Leipzig faced Eintracht Frankfurt. The 28-year-old French forward has returned to Leipzig this summer after difficult spells at Chelsea and AC Milan, and his first-half hat-trick gave his side an ideal opening to the match.
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Nkunku’s display is another encouraging sign for a player who made his name in Germany after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. He came through the PSG first team between 2015 and 2019 before joining Leipzig, where he developed into one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking players during his first stay from 2019 to 2023.
The Frankfurt treble was the third hat-trick of his senior career. His first came in a 6-3 Champions League defeat away to Manchester City in 2021, when he scored all three Leipzig goals at the Etihad Stadium.
He added another three-goal performance while at Chelsea in 2024, scoring in a 5-0 League Cup win over Barrow. After his struggles in England and Italy, Saturday’s first-half burst offered a reminder of the finishing and movement that previously made Nkunku such a major figure at Leipzig.
