Ben Taleb treble not enough as Union Berlin fight back for six-goal draw

Moroccan forward Younes Ben Taleb scored three times for Eintracht Frankfurt, but his side were held to a 3-3 draw by Union Berlin in a dramatic Bundesliga opener on Saturday.

The result looked unlikely after Frankfurt recovered from an early setback and established a two-goal advantage, only for the hosts to respond with two late goals and claim a share of the points.

Union Berlin made the faster start at home, taking the lead after only three minutes through Emmanuel Latte Lath. Frankfurt’s response, however, was immediate.

Ben Taleb levelled for the visitors in the 10th minute, putting Eintracht back on terms just seven minutes after Union had gone ahead. He then struck again in the 11th minute to complete a rapid turnaround and give Frankfurt a 2-1 lead.

The Morocco international’s first two goals came in quick succession, but his most significant contribution arrived after half-time. In the 67th minute, Ben Taleb completed his hat-trick by scoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s third goal of the match.

The treble appeared to have put the visitors in control, with Union Berlin facing a two-goal deficit and time running out. The home side refused to concede, though, and began a late fightback.

Leopold Querfeld reduced the gap in the 79th minute, setting up a tense finish at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei. Union continued to press for an equaliser and were rewarded in the second minute of added time.

Tim Skarke scored Union Berlin’s third goal to make it 3-3, completing a comeback that denied Frankfurt victory despite Ben Taleb’s outstanding individual display.

The final score meant both teams opened their Bundesliga campaigns with a point. Frankfurt will reflect on a match in which three goals from one player were not enough to secure all three points, while Union Berlin recovered from falling behind twice to avoid defeat on the opening day.

Ben Taleb’s three goals provided the defining moments of the game. His first restored parity after Latte Lath’s early strike, his second moved Eintracht in front almost immediately afterwards, and his third restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion in the second half.

Yet Union Berlin’s late response ensured the Moroccan’s performance did not produce a winning start for Frankfurt. Querfeld’s goal gave the hosts hope before Skarke’s stoppage-time finish completed the scoring and preserved the 3-3 draw.

The match therefore ended with the honours even, despite Frankfurt leading 2-1 at half-time and 3-1 after Ben Taleb’s 67th-minute goal.