Author: Vishwajit Sawant
RB Leipzig successfully defended their German Cup title with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the eagerly awaited final showdown on Saturday. Christopher Nkunku played a crucial role in Leipzig’s triumph, contributing a deflected goal and an assist that ultimately sealed the win.
Throughout the match, both teams were cautious, reluctant to give their opponents any opportunity to launch quick counter-attacks. As a result, there were few clear chances for either side.
It was in the 71st minute that Nkunku had a stroke of luck that broke the deadlock. The French striker fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but the ball bounced off two Frankfurt defenders, leaving goalkeeper Kevin Trapp powerless to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. That fortunate deflection gave Leipzig a crucial lead.
As the game drew to a close, Nkunku showed his versatility by becoming the provider. In the 85th minute, with Frankfurt’s defense surrounding him, Nkunku played a precise pass to Dominik Szoboszlai, who shot confidently past Trapp to secure Leipzig’s victory.
While Leipzig were celebrating their two consecutive wins in the DFB Pokal, the result also had implications for other teams. Bayer Leverkusen, who finished sixth in the league, earned a place in the Europa League as a result of Leipzig’s cup win. Frankfurt, despite their previous success in the Europa League, had to settle for qualification for the Europa League Conference, a third-tier European competition.
What’s more, Nkunku’s impactful performance in the final has intensified speculation about his future. It has been widely reported that the talented striker is set to join Chelsea at the end of the season, marking a significant change in his career.
When the final whistle blew, RB Leipzig were basking in the glory of retaining the DFB Pokal title, while Frankfurt were contemplating their alternative path in Europe. The match showed Nkunku’s key role, leaving a lasting impression on the fans and fueling expectations of his next move to Chelsea.