Returning RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner believes he and Christopher Nkunku have the makings of a formidable partnership that will strike fear into opposition teams.

Werner played with Nkunku in the final year of his first spell at Leipzig in 2019/20, when the Saxony club finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

The Germany striker spent the next two seasons at English Premier League outfit Chelsea - winning the 2021/22 Champions League - whilst Nkunku has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in European football, earning the Bundesliga's Player of the Season award last term.

The duo picked up where they left off on Bundesliga Matchday 2 of the new campaign as Werner marked his second debut for the DFB Cup holders with the opening goal in a 2-2 draw with Cologne.

For Leipzig's record 91-goal scorer, it promises to be the first of many.

Watch: Timo Werner talks Christopher Nkunku partnership

"I played with Christo the last year I was here and he already played a lot of balls through to me back then," Werner told bundesliga.com after sinking an Nkunku assist.

"He has made unbelievable strides in his shooting in the last two years and he scores almost every game. If we work on our passing game a little bit more, including with Dani [Olmo] behind us who played superbly today, then I think we can really scare the other teams in the league and become a really good front three.

"We also have a lot of great forwards whose we can play with, and we have a lot of options, but I think Christo and I could become a good combination."

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About the players

11

Timo

Werner

RB Leipzig

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The numbers suggest as much. While Werner put away his 79th Bundesliga goal in 128 appearances for Leipzig - he's the only player at the club, past or present, to break the 40-goal barrier in the Bundesliga - Nkunku has already had a direct hand in four of their six competitive goals this season (three of his own, plus his assist for Werner).

The France international registered registered 20 Bundesliga goals and 13 assists in 2021/21, and is currently second only to former Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski for calendar-year goals in the German top flight (15 compared to 16). His overall tally in the Bundesliga reads 33 goals and 37 assists in 96 matches.

Watch: Christopher Nkunku - The Bundesliga's 2021/22 Player of the Season

The Werner-Nkunku tandem are next in action at Union Berlin on 20 August, before hosting Wolfsburg (27 August) and beginning Leipzig's DFB Cup defence against fourth-tier Teutonia Ottensen (30 August).

About the clubs

RB Leipzig

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