![]() ![]() ![]() Both are quick but can Nkunku read his teammate's runs? And what position is Werner most comfortable in now? It remains to be seen though whether the two strikers who can form a cohesive partnership or if their strengths are too similar to gel together. If both Werner and Nkunku can replicate their best individual seasons with Leipzig as an attacking force there will be much expectation and hope that the front two can propel the team towards a league challenge, past the group stages of the Champions League and perhaps beyond. Szoboszlai's red card meant Nkunku was forced to drop into the midfield for the second half and the pair seldom linked up, but the former Paris Saint Germain forward's prowess in front of goal was not dimmed.Ĭollecting a brilliant pass from Olmo, Nkunku raced into the box and - having placed his standing foot towards the back post - powered the ball into the far corner. Returning together to the starting line-up for the first time in two years, the pair struggled to find much of a rhythm - with one opportunity missed when Werner's weak header failed to set Nkunku free on a counterattack. Nkunku's dancing feet in front of goal last year, which helped him score 35 times in 58 appearances, saw him named as the Bundesliga player of the season as he came into his own.Ĭhristopher Nkunku has been a key player for Domenico Tedesco Last season the French striker finally showcased that he possessed not only raw speed but also the talent to turn defenders inside out, regularly leaving them on the deck with fancy footwork and tidy pirouettes. Werner and Nkunku's initial one-year spell together up front for Leipzig during the 2019-2020 season was dominated by former - whose 28 league goals dwarfed his forward partner's paltry five strikes. But I think many teams would have lost the game today."Īnd, Werner echoed his head coaches thoughts but is expectant of better outcomes, adding: "When you play so long a man down 2-2 is acceptable but it is not enough for the target we have." Partnership with Nkunku on the cards? Still, Leipzig's resistance to hold on for the draw impressed Tedesco who said after the game: "There were a few fateful blows for us. But their defensive frailties were highlighted by the two poor goals they conceded. The hosts played the second half with just 10 men, after Dominik Szoboszlai was dubiously shown a red card at the end of the first 45 for raising his elbow towards Kainz's face.Ĭhristoper Nkunku's brilliant effort, scored after escaping three defenders inside the box, gave Leipzig hope of an unlikely victory. However, the draw against Cologne offered few answers about whether Werner's homecoming can add enough to Leipzig's team to make them a true threat to Bayern Munich's bid for an eleventh consecutive Bundesliga title. ![]() "We had very little data on him, so a game like this is very helpful to see where he is at the moment."Īnd, CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is confident Werner has much still to show, adding: "He is certainly not at 100%, nobody expected that. Head coach Domenico Tedesco admitted after the match that Leipzig were unaware of Werner's condition, explaining: "We didn't really know what the status of him was, even though he did the whole preseason at Chelsea. When Werner was afforded space in the middle of the park, his strike from 25 yards and Schwäbe's mistake allowed him a dream return goal - and a standing ovation when he substituted midway through the second half. The 26-year-old - who received the loudest cheer of any player when the lineup was read out ahead of the match - looked confident but lacked match fitness as poor first touches and simple passes often found a Cologne player instead of his own teammate. "We have a brilliant level of variety and depth in our attack and a lot of quality going forward." He has a lot of experience on the international stage and knows RB Leipzig very well. Can Werner help RB Leipzig topple Bayern?Īt Werner's unveiling on Tuesday, technical director Christopher Vivell sung the striker's praises, saying: "He'll take on a leading role here. Overall, it was a lowkey return for the German forward though, littered with misplaced passes and without a single touch in Cologne's box.
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