Younes Ebnoutalib made an immediate impression on the opening matchday of the new Bundesliga season. The Moroccan-born forward scored three times for Eintracht Frankfurt against Union Berlin, though his side ultimately had to settle for a 3-3 draw.
Eintracht Frankfurt looked well on course for a dream start to their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday, only to let victory slip through their fingers in the closing stages. The standout performer for Frankfurt was undoubtedly Younes Ebnoutalib, who accounted for all of his team's goals with a brilliant hat-trick.
The forward enjoyed an exceptional start to the match. Ebnoutalib struck twice in the 10th and 11th minutes, handing Frankfurt a comfortable lead within a matter of moments.
Union Berlin managed to claw their way back into the encounter, but Ebnoutalib remained a constant threat to the hosts.
In the 67th minute, he netted his third goal of the afternoon. In doing so, he completed his first-ever Bundesliga hat-trick and put Frankfurt back in front.
Ebnoutalib stayed on the pitch deep into the second half before being substituted in the 85th minute as Frankfurt tried to secure the win.
That victory ultimately never materialized.
Union Strikes in Injury Time
Frankfurt held onto their lead for nearly the entire second half and looked poised to take all three points home.
However, in the second minute of stoppage time, Union Berlin drew level. The late equalizer sealed a 3-3 final score and dashed Frankfurt's hopes of taking home a win.
For Ebnoutalib, that did little to detract from his remarkable individual display. With his three goals, he was undoubtedly the man of the match.
After the final whistle, the forward was awarded a match rating of 9.7, the highest score of any player on either side.
Amaimouni Also Starts
Alongside Ebnoutalib, Amaimouni was also named in Frankfurt's starting lineup.
The Moroccan midfielder played an active role in his team's attacking play, repeatedly testing the Union Berlin goal, though several of his efforts were blocked.
Amaimouni was replaced in the 79th minute, just a few moments before Ebnoutalib was also called to the bench.
This meant that for a large portion of the match, two players of Moroccan descent were featuring prominently on the pitch for Frankfurt.
Strong Start for Ebnoutalib
For Ebnoutalib, the hat-trick marks a phenomenal start to his second season at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Moroccan-born attacker has continued his development in Germany over recent times and is earning every opportunity to prove himself at the highest level with Frankfurt.
Starting the new campaign with three goals right out of the gate will undoubtedly boost his confidence even further.
His progress is also of great interest to Morocco. Ebnoutalib has increasingly put his name in the spotlight, and a strong Bundesliga campaign could take him a step closer to the international stage.
Three goals on the opening day, two strikes within a single minute, and a 9.7 match rating: Younes Ebnoutalib has kicked off his new Bundesliga season in sensational fashion.