Younes Ebnoutalib scores Bundesliga hat-trick on Frankfurt debut

Moroccan striker Younes Ebnoutalib marked his first Bundesliga appearance for Eintracht Frankfurt with a hat-trick, but his three goals were not enough to secure victory as Frankfurt drew 3-3 with Union Berlin.

The 3-3 result ended a remarkable individual performance from Ebnoutalib, who produced an immediate response after Frankfurt fell behind early in the match.

Union Berlin made the stronger start and took the lead in only the third minute when Latte Lath found the net.

Frankfurt’s response was led by Ebnoutalib, who turned the game around with two goals in the space of just two minutes.

The Moroccan forward struck in the 10th minute to bring Frankfurt level before completing his quickfire brace in the 11th minute.

His two goals gave Frankfurt a 2-1 advantage and placed Ebnoutalib at the centre of the contest after a difficult opening for his side.

The striker continued to pose a threat after the break and eventually completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute.

His third goal extended Frankfurt’s advantage to 3-1 and appeared to put the home side in a strong position to claim all three points.

However, Union Berlin refused to allow the match to slip away.

Querfeld reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, bringing Union back into contention with more than 10 minutes remaining.

Frankfurt were unable to hold on to their lead as Union continued to push for an equaliser.

Their persistence eventually paid off in stoppage time when Skarke scored in the 90+2 minute to make it 3-3.

The late equaliser denied Frankfurt victory despite Ebnoutalib’s outstanding contribution in front of goal.

The Moroccan had scored three times on his Bundesliga debut, including two goals in the opening 11 minutes and another in the second half.

His hat-trick nevertheless could not prevent Frankfurt from dropping two points after leading 3-1.

For Ebnoutalib, the performance provided an impressive introduction to the Bundesliga.

The striker showed his finishing ability throughout the match, responding to Union’s early goal and later restoring Frankfurt’s two-goal advantage with his third strike.

But Union’s late comeback meant Frankfurt had to settle for a point from a match in which their Moroccan forward had done almost everything possible to secure victory.

The 3-3 draw therefore produced contrasting outcomes for the two sides.

Ebnoutalib enjoyed a memorable personal debut after scoring three goals, while Frankfurt were left to reflect on a match they had appeared to have under control before Union’s late fightback.

Despite the disappointment of conceding twice in the closing stages, the Moroccan striker’s hat-trick ensured his first Bundesliga appearance would be remembered for his goalscoring impact.