THERE is little doubt as to which South American player stood out most in the opening weekend of the return of the Bundesliga.
Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha cut in from the left to score a fine solo goal in Hertha Berlin’s 3-0 away win against Hoffenheim.
Matheus Cunha has found the scoring touch for Hertha BerlinCredit: Reuters
And then, with the stage to himself on Friday night, he added another cracker in the local derby against Union Berlin.
These were important goals at an important moment. The rangy Cunha, who just turned 21 , could be a candidate to solve Brazil’s nagging centre forward problem.
A POOR WORLD CUP
National team coach Tite thought he had the solution when he gave the then teenage Gabriel Jesus his debut back in 2016.
The youngster got off to a fine start, but had a deeply disappointing World Cup.
Since Russia 2018, Brazil have used him as a wide striker, which Tite says is his favourite position.
He has not featured again at centre forward – where Roberto Firmino has also struggled.
True, Brazil did win last year’s Copa America. But they had home advantage. They were never truly tested, and were held to goalless draws by Venezuela and Paraguay.
FIRMINO’S STRUGGLES
After the Copa, Brazil went on a run of five games without a win. Firmino did not click as he does week in week out for Liverpool, mainly because the structure of the side is so different.
Cunha could be the answer to Brazils problems in the centre forward positionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
His lack of penalty area presence proved a problem, and he will probably be used in a deeper role from now on.
In the last game the bad run ended with a convincing win over South Korea.
Richarlison played up front, which gave the attack more physicality. But he, too, is happiest in a wide role.
CUNHA IS A CENTRE FORWARD
Matheus Cunha, by contrast, is an out and out centre forward, though he can operate across the attacking line.
He came through the youth ranks in Brazil with Coritiba, but moved to Europe before making his professional debut after being spotted in a youth tournament.
First stop was Sion in Switzerland, where after a highly promising season he was picked up by Red Bull Leipzig.
His first campaign in Germany went well, especially in the Europa League, and he ended 2018/9 with 9 goals from 39 games.
This season, though, he hit a wall. The team were flying, but Cunha was not getting on well with emerging young coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was looking for more effort and all round contribution.
At Leipzig Cunha struggledCredit: Rex Features
BACK IN FAVOUR
At the start of the year Cunha came back across the Atlantic to play for Brazil’s Under-23 in the South American Olympic qualifying tournament in Colombia.
Without a goal to his name in the season, he was short of confidence. But during the course of the competition he played himself into form.
He was top scorer with five goals, showing that he could lead the line and finish off either foot and in the air.
He had forced himself into the picture for a place in the senior squad – especially as during the tournament he also changed clubs, swapping Leipzig for Hertha Berlin, where he got off to a quick start before the pandemic struck.
Hertha Berlin face off against Leipzig with Cunha in fine formCredit: EPA
The pause clearly did nothing to blunt his sharpness. He now has four goals in six league games for his new club. And the difference now is that more people are watching.
He can celebrate his birthday today with a revenge match against Leipzig.
The games are coming thick and fast. And every one of them is a stage from which Matheus Cunha can shout his claims to become Brazil’s centre forward, sure in the knowledge that national team boss Tite will be watching.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
