Nkunku on target as Leipzig down Freiburg

RB Leipzig 3-1 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Simakan (64'), 2-0 Nkunku 66' (assist: Szoboszlai), 2-1 Kübler 66' 3-1 Forsberg (pen. 78')

Leipzig lost defender Abdou Diallo to injury in the warm-up, as well as his replacement, Josko Gvardiol, after 23 minutes. Their rhythm remained largely in check, with Nkunku clipping the upright prior to Gvardiol's clash of heads with teammate Will Orban. Andre Silva and substitute Benjamin Henrichs dragged wide as Leipzig attempted to ram home their territorial advantage. Mark Flekken had to dive full stretch to push Orban's deflected header onto this right-hand post, with Dominik Szoboszlai rattling the goal frame directly from the ensuing corner.

Freiburg were on the ropes again early in the second half as Flekken threw up a strong right hand to beat away Nkunku's shot from a tight angle. His resistance was broken soon after, though, when Mohammed Simakan applied the close-range finish after Nkunku's header from a corner had come back off the crossbar. Die Breisgauer were down again within 120 seconds as Szoboszlai set up Nkunku for a routine first-time strike. Lukas Kübler's fierce volley halved the deficit, only for Leipzig to land the knockout blow courtesy of substitute Emil Forsberg's penalty.

• With 12 league goals so far this season, Nkunku is the Bundesliga's top scorer after 14 games. He's also the top scorer in 2022, with 25.
• Leipzig are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions (W10, D2), winning five out of seven in the Bundesliga. They've taken 20 from a possible 27 points since Marco Rose replaced Domenico Tedesco as head coach.
• Die Roten Bullen are unbeaten at home in this season's Bundesliga (W6, D1), equating to a league-best return of 19 points.
• Forsberg scored his second Bundesliga goal of the season.
• Szoboszlai has assisted goals in five successive Bundesliga matches.
• Freiburg suffered their third defeat of the season.

>> Get Nkunku for your Fantasy team for 17.1M!

Watch: Emil Forsberg - 'Nkunku's an amazing player'

Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan, Orban (c), Gvardiol (Henrichs 23'), Halstenberg - Schlager, Kampl (Haidara 83') - Szoboszlai (Poulsen 83'), Nkunku, Olmo (Forsberg 60') - Silva (Raum 83')
Unused subs: Nyland, Klostermann, Novoa
Out: Diallo (knee), Gulacsi (knee), Laimer (ankle), Werner (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose

Freiburg: Flekken - Sildillia, Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) (Sallai 55') - Eggestein, Höfler (Keitel 83') - Doan (Grifo 59'), Gregoritsch (Schade 55'), Jeong (Höler 59')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Schlottebeck, Wagner, Petersen
Out: Ezekwem (muscular), Gulde (back), Kyereh (ill), Schmid (muscular)
Coach: Christian Streich