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Warsaw (AFP) – More essential than ever, French international Christopher Nkunku scored the first goal of RB Leipzig’s big victory once morest the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk (4-0), synonymous with qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The eastern German club finish second in their group with 12 points, one less than Karim Benzema’s Real Madrid, on the bench and came on Wednesday, who won at home once morest Celtic (5-1).
Like last week during the victory once morest Madrid (3-2), “Christo” was once once more decisive, quickly unblocking the situation once morest Donetsk.
On a high pressing from his teammate Dominik Szoboszlai, he first recovered the ball regarding thirty meters from the Donetsk goal, shifted center forward Timo Werner and took the shot repelled by the Shakhtar goalkeeper to open the score in the 10th minute.
Still playing with a splint in his right hand following his operation three weeks ago, Nkunku also delivered an assist to Szoboszlai shortly following the hour mark, for Leipzig’s third goal (62nd). Before that, André Silva had doubled the lead in the 50th minute. Then Dani Olmo, the Spanish international, concluded the attacking festival in the 68th minute.
Only negative point, the exit on injury from the first quarter of an hour of play of Timo Werner. Hit on a too strong tackle from the captain of Donetsk, Taras Stepanenko, he immediately held his left ankle and had to leave in the 19th minute.
The first diagnosis during the match was rather reassuring but Werner will have to undergo additional examinations, two and a half weeks before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and one week before the announcement of his list by German coach Hansi flick.
RB Leipzig is the fourth German club to qualify for the knockout stages of the C1, following Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians are the only ones to finish in first place in their group.
© 2022 AFP
