It is a rare occasion that a team can win a game by three goals and still feel like they have been given the runaround by an opponent.
That is what happened last season at the Etihad Stadium, though, as Manchester City ran out 6-3 victors against RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stage, conceding a hat-trick to a player who was undergoing one of the most explosive rises in recent years.
Christopher Nkunku became one of two players to score a hat-trick against City in Europe's premier club competition, the other being Lionel Messi in October 2016.
Presumably to City's relief, Nkunku looks set to miss a return visit in their Champions League last-16 second leg after suffering a minor thigh strain in the recent loss at Borussia Dortmund, and Leipzig would therefore be without one of the most impressive players in Europe.
Nkunku came through the youth set-up at Paris Saint-Germain, spending four seasons there after his first-team debut in the 2015-16 campaign, making 78 appearances in all for his hometown club.
He wanted more responsibility, though, often getting lost among the superstars of the Parc des Princes, such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and sealed a move worth a reported €13million to RB Leipzig in July 2019.
Nkunku was not an immediate success in Germany either, but he played 60 league games over his first two seasons at Red Bull Arena, and his development became obvious by the third.
In his final season in Paris in 2018-19, he had six goal involvements (four goals, two assists) in 29 appearances (17 starts). Last season for Leipzig, he recorded 51 goal involvements (35 goals, 16 assists) in 52 appearances (48 starts).
This drastic increase is likely down to extra game-time, responsibility and also the sort of general improvements you would expect of a player in three years at that age.
It also appeared Nkunku was simply getting into better scoring positions, though.
In his last year in Ligue 1, he largely played on the right for PSG, with 48 per cent of his touches across the entire pitch on average coming on the right-side of the opposition's half.
However, just four per cent of his touches came inside the opposition penalty area, which increased to 14 per cent this season in the Bundesliga.
From 2018-19 to 2021-22, Nkunku also increased his output in terms of total shots per 90 (from 1.8 to 2.7), chance conversion (21.1 per cent to 35.1 per cent) and, most drastically, shooting accuracy (42.1 per cent to 70.8 per cent).
That explosion led to some concerns he could have been a one-season wonder, but Nkunku has another 17 goals and three assists in 27 games (22 starts) this season, having missed a chunk of it with a knee injury sustained just before the World Cup, where he had been tipped to shine for eventual runners-up France in Qatar.
He has scored 10 goals across his last 12 starts in the Champions League and has attracted interest from several of Europe's top clubs, with reports suggesting a big-money move to Chelsea is all but done for the end of the season.
Nkunku won the Bundesliga's player of the season award in 2021-22, despite being joint-fourth top scorer in the league alongside Anthony Modeste (20), behind Robert Lewandowski (35), Patrick Schick (24) and Erling Haaland (22).
It was his creativity as well as his goals that won him plaudits, though, with only Thomas Muller (18) claiming more assists in the league than his 13.
Prior to Nkunku's return from injury against Wolfsburg in February, Leipzig head coach Marco Rose said of the 25-year-old: "There are not many players in the world that are as talented as he is.
"Christo does things that you can't expect because he's an impact player and immensely talented... He's got a good feel for when to make a run and can carry the ball into those one-v-one situations. He adds a lot to our game, and his absence has been felt by all of us."
A thigh strain suffered in the 2-1 defeat at Dortmund looks like it will keep Nkunku from taking to the field against City on Tuesday, and that would be a significant blow to Rose's chances of masterminding a win.
Still without first-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, as well as combative midfielder Xaver Schlager, Rose has some selection headaches to contend with, but he still has plenty of exceptional talent to call on.
Centre-back Josko Gvardiol will again be tasked with stopping Haaland, as he did expertly in the first leg, while he also scored Leipzig's equalising goal.
The Croatian found the net in Saturday's 3-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach as well, as did Timo Werner, whose importance will be paramount in the absence of Nkunku.
Werner has 13 goals in 27 games since his return from Chelsea, and his pace on the counter-attack against a City team who often push high should be a key factor.
Dani Olmo is another attacking option who has been out with injury, with Rose suggesting the Spain international could at least play a part off the bench against City.
In Nkunku, though, they will be without their main man, assuming he does not make a miraculous recovery.
At his pre-match press conference, City manager Pep Guardiola was asked about the Frenchman's likely absence, saying: "Nkunku is an exceptional player, but they live this season without him and do it really well without him."
Whether they can manage really well without him again will be the difference between the Champions League quarter-finals and elimination.
Shaka Hislop happy for Lionel Messi to do 'whatever he wants', but would love to see him in MLS
Lionel Messi has earned the right to do whatever he wishes with his career, but Shaka Hislop would love to see the Argentine superstar head to MLS.
Messi seems set to leave Paris Saint-Germain after the expiration of his contract.
Christophe Galtier said on Friday that Messi would be playing his last game for PSG when the Ligue 1 champions host Clermont on Saturday.
While the club subsequently told AFP that Galtier had "expressed himself incorrectly and that the match against Clermont would be Messi's last at the Parc with PSG this season", according to L'Equipe, it does appear to be the end of the road in Paris for the 35-year-old.
It has been reported that Barcelona are eager to take Messi back to Catalonia, and there is interest from Saudi Arabia, where Karim Benzema is seemingly headed and Cristiano Ronaldo already plays.
MLS side Inter Miami have long been credited with an interest too, however, and former Newcastle United, Portsmouth and West Ham goalkeeper Hislop - who ended his own career in the United States with FC Dallas - would be thrilled to see Messi head across the Atlantic.
"It would be incredibly huge for MLS, which continues to grow in so many ways," Hislop told Stats Perform.
"I think it brings eyes to this league, it brings an appreciation of this league that has based a lot of its growth around bringing young and exciting South American talent to MLS.
"So to have a not-so-young but exciting South American talent in the league does wonders for it.
"I'm a huge fan of MLS, and its growth because I went to university here, so I know exactly what US Soccer was like through the late 80s and early 90s.
"So to see how it's developed today, I think has been incredible just to witness, so I would love to see him in MLS and have had the sport get that exposure like only he can bring."
Messi joined PSG in 2021 and has played a direct part in 66 goals (32 goals and 34 assists) since making his debut, a tally bettered only by Kylian Mbappe (106) among his team-mates in that timeframe.
Yet Messi has at times faced criticism from PSG's fanbase, especially after he was suspended by the club for a making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
Hislop, though, says Messi deserves to play wherever he wants.
"I think Lionel Messi has given this game so much, and at this point, do whatever you want," he said.
"We'll comment and pass judgment on it but he's given this game so much of his life. He's given us all so much to appreciate. I'm all for Lionel Messi doing whatever he wants. I really am."
Alistair Johnston: No heads to turn amid Spurs speculation with all eyes on cup
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston is confident they will not be blown off course by speculation over their manager ahead of the Scottish Cup final.
Johnston admits hearing talk of Tottenham’s reported interest in Ange Postecoglou is unavoidable, but the manager and skipper Callum McGregor especially will not allow it to become a distraction.
The right-back, who has been passed fit for Saturday’s Hampden clash with Inverness, said: “Trust me, we all hear the noise. We have got Sky Sports on and it seems like every other story that’s running is that one.
“But it comes from the top down for us; Cal doesn’t let any noise in and the gaffer definitely doesn’t let any noise in. It’s just been the gaffer as I know him and I don’t think anyone was expecting anything different.
“This ship is steering straight where it needs to go right to that cup final.
“We just don’t let that kind of stuff creep into the building in terms of letting guys’ heads turn.
“That’s super important and I think that goes to show why this club has been so successful, we don’t let that kind of stuff affect players.
“You can always tell when someone’s head is turned or something is going on, they just play a little bit off, or they don’t truly feel all the way there.
“But that’s never been the case at all in my time here. Even when guys were leaving, and guys did leave in that January window, everyone was still training as hard as possible up until the day they left.
“I found that very impressive but, again, that comes from the top down. You are not allowed to have a wandering eye, because if you do you are going to get found out and this squad is so deep that you will be out of the squad as quick as that. That’s what we have here and I think that’s really special.
“I know there’s a lot of talk but we are not bothered, we are not worrying about that, we are just focused on this cup final.”
The Canada international has not felt the need for anyone inside Celtic Park to give the players any reassurances over Postecoglou’s future.
“None of it’s really needed,” he said. “We are all professionals, we understand it’s going to come with the job. When you are super successful, you are going to be linked with other things.
“We don’t feel that’s something that needs to be brought up because it’s just a distraction.
“No words need to be spoken about that. It’s simple: head down, work hard, and hope you are going to be in the squad for the cup final and have a chance to lift the trophy.”
Celtic fans are searching for clues that might mean their popular manager decides to stay in Glasgow despite the lure of the Premier League, and Johnston feels there is a real determination from Postecoglou and his players to improve in the Champions League next season.
Another title win ensured they will be in the group stage again and they are looking to improve on their two-point tally from last season.
Johnston said: “I have just gotten here. He was a big reason, just talking to him and seeing how he plays and his goals for the club, not only domestically but in the Champions League as well.
“Obviously I wasn’t here for the run this year but the guys felt they left a little on the table, the performances were strong but the results maybe weren’t. So I think everybody is excited to have another crack at it.
“We have a lot of really determined and hungry individuals who want to prove that, just because we are in Scotland, doesn’t mean we can’t compete with those massive European clubs.
“That’s really important to us and important to the manager as well.
“That’s something we are all building towards. The gaffer has been signing players with that intention. In my talk with him, it was that we want to be dominant domestically but we also want to take that next step at the international level, and that’s something we are going to be looking for next season especially.”
Barry Robson delighted to sign ‘proven leader’ Nicky Devlin for Aberdeen
Barry Robson is delighted to have added “a proven leader” to his squad after Aberdeen confirmed the arrival of former Livingston captain Nicky Devlin on a two-year deal.
The 29-year-old’s switch to Pittodrie was already common knowledge after a photo emerged a fortnight ago of the player and his agent signing his pre-contract with the Dons.
Devlin even spoke briefly about his impending move to Aberdeen last week at a pre-match media conference ahead of his penultimate outing for Livingston against Motherwell.
The Dons were finally able to officially announce the signing on Thursday.
“Nicky is a proven leader and is exactly the type of character I want within my squad here,” manager Robson told the Reds’ website.
“He is an experienced professional who has been captain at two previous clubs, he knows the league well and is equipped for the demands we are going to face next season.”
Devlin has also played for Dumbarton, Stenhousemuir, Ayr United – where he was also skipper – and Walsall.
The 29-year-old is looking forward to his first taste of European football, with the Dons set for guaranteed group-stage involvement until Christmas if Celtic defeat Inverness in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final.
“It’s great to be an Aberdeen player and I am really looking forward to the season ahead,” he said.
“Aberdeen really impressed me when the conversations first started about a potential move.
“The way the manager wants to take the club forward and the personal touches from all the staff contributed to my decision. Aberdeen was definitely the best fit for me.
“The opportunity to play in Europe was clearly an added attraction.
“I’ve had to work hard in my career to get where I am and so I want to do my very best at Aberdeen and grasp the fantastic opportunity I’ve been given.”
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