RB Leipzig against Eintracht Frankfurt is not only one of the most exciting games on Bundesligamatchday 22, it is also a meeting of two world-class attackers in the shape of Christopher Nkunku and Randal Kolo Muani.
The two France internationals are extremely important to their respective teams. Before the game, we take a look at both of them and their qualities. What makes them so good and what will the RBL defence have to be aware of?
Kolo Muani replaced Nkunku in World Cup Squad
Last November it was the case that one man’s joy is another man’s sorrow. After a strong 2022 in a RBL shirt, Christopher Nkunku was hoping for an equally strong World Cup with France. However, shortly before the start of the tournament, Christo got injured and had to leave France’s training camp after tearing a ligament in his knee. The upsetting fact of being out of the World Cup for RBL’s main man meant a call-up in his place for Randal Kolo Muani.
The Frankfurt attacker made three appearances for his country in Qatar, scoring in the semi-final against Morocco as a substitute to make it 2-0, before suffering the misfortune in the final of just missing a big chance to give France the win. In the end, France lost on penalties (Kolo Muani converted his penalty), meaning they finished runners-up.
Both Nkunku and Kolo Muani have strong years behind them. Now, both want to follow up this success in 2023.
Christo got his first assist after coming back from injury in his first appearance, while Kolo Muani has five goals in the first six Bundesliga matchdays of 2023, the joint-most alongside Köln’s Ellyes Skhiri.
Nkunku the full package
Christopher Nkunku has improved enormously since joining the club from Paris St. Germain in 2019. Last season, he made the step up from being a very good striker to being a world-class player.
35 goals and 20 assists in 52 competitive games in the 2021/22 season illustrated his class. This season he has already got 17 goals and a further five assists from his first 24 competitive games for RBL.
Christo is not a classical centre-forward, but can cause danger from positions all across the frontline. He is technically secure, a strong dribbler, very quick and difficult to tackle. The total package, which many club are after. With his speed, he is a real weapon on the counter, but he is also a threat in more patient attacks. He has already scored two goals from direct freekicks this season.
Hard-working Kolo Muani
Kolo Muani, who joined the Bundesliga last summer from Nantes, can drift out wide like Christo, but he is most comfortable as a centre-forward. There, he has shown all of his class, both in terms of his finishing but also in providing assist for his teammates. He has scored 15 times in 30 competitive games this season, with a further 14 assists. He has scored seven goals from his last eight Bundesliga games.
The 24-year-old is extremely hard-working and has contested the most duels of any Bundesliga player. He is the most fouled Eintracht player. With a top speed of 34.9 km/h, he is the quickest Frankfurt player this season alongside Jesper Lindström. Christo is not far behind him, clocking a top speed of 34.6 km/h.
On Saturday, Christopher Nkunku and Randal Kolo Muani will now face off in a direct head-to-head. This yet again means that there will be joy for someone and sorrow for someone else. It might be Christo who has the last laugh on matchday 22…